
Qass. 
Book. 



\ 



AMERICAN 
NAVAL BATTLES; 

BEING A 

COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE BATTLES FOUGHT BY THE 

NAVY 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES, 

FROM ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1794 TO THE PRESENT TIMEj 

INCLUDING 

THE WARS WITH FRANCE AND TRIPOLI J THE LATE WAR WITH 

GREAT BRITAIN, AND WITH ALGIERS ; WITH AN ACCOUNT 

OF THE ATTACK ON BALTIMORE, AND OF THE 

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS, 




EMBELLISHED WITH TWENTY ELEGANT ENGRAVINGS, 
REPRESENTING BATTLES, &C. 



BOSTON: 

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY CHARLES GAYLORD. 

1837. 






DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit: 

District Clerk's Office. 

Be tt remembered, that on the twenty-ninth day of April, Anna Domini 1831, Horacb 
Kimball^ of the said district, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the title of 
which is in tb» words following, to wit : 

" Amonesa Nara. Batt ea : being a complete His^'^ry of the Battles fought by the Navy of 
the Unitea States, from its establishment in 1794 to it.e present time ; inclading the Wars 
with France, and with Tripoli, the late War with Great Britain and with Algiers : with an 
Account of the Attack on Baltimore, and of the Battle of New Orleans. With twenty-one 
•legant Engravings, representing Battles, &c." 

the right whereof he claims as Proprietor, In conformity with an act of Congress, entitled 
" An act to amend the several acts respecting Copy rights." 

JNO. W. DAVIS, 

Cltrk of t*e IHgtritt 



D. ofO. Pu]». liik. 



*U«it \Wi 



CONTENTS. 



Origin and establishment of the Navy - - 7 

Naval force in 1801 - - - 10 

Captain Truxton - - - - 1 1 

Capture of the Insurgente - - - II 

Action between Constellation and Vengeance - 11 

Captain Little — frigate Boston - - 13 

Capture of Le Berceau - - - 13 

Captain Sterrett _ - _ - 15 

Action with a Tripolitan - - - 15 

Schooner Experiment — lieutenant Stewart - 17 

Capture of the Diana - - - - 17 
Operations in the Mediterranean under commodore Preble 19 
Commodore Prebl&'s interview with the emperor of Morocco 22 

Loss of the frigate Philadelphia - . - 23 

Burning of the Philadelphia - - - 25 

Attack on Tripoli - - _ - 27 — 41 

President and Little Belt - - - 42 

President and Belvidere - - - 45 
Escape of the Constitution from a British squadron - 47 

Capture of the Guerriere - - - 51 

First cruise of the Essex and capture of the Alert - 58 

Cruise of the Wasp and capture of the Frolic *- 62 

Capture of the Wasp - - - - 67 

Second cruise of commodore Rodgers - ' - 69 

Capture of the Swallow - - - - 69 

Cruise of the Argus - - - 70 

United States - - - 7 1 



IV CONTENTS. 

Capture of the Macedonian - - - 70 

Java . - - . 75 

Lieutenant Aylwin - - ,80 

Hornet and Bonne Citoyenne - - - 81 

Capture of the Peacock - - - 85 

Chesapeake and Shannon - - - 88 

Letter of commodore Broke - - - 89 

.Death and funeral obsequies of Lawrence and Ludlow 94, 100 

Blockade of New London - - - 101 

Capture of the Eagle - - - ' - 102 

Third cruise of the President - - 103 

Cruise of the Congress - - - - 107 

Argus and Pelican - - - 108 

Death and funeral of captain Allen - - 112 

Enterprize and Boxer - - - ' - 117 

Funeral of lieutenant Burrows and captain Blythe - 120 

Letter from captain Hull - - - 121 

from lieutenant M'Call - - - 122 

Captain Hull's card - - - 123 

letter to commodore Bainbridge - 125 

Cruise of the Essex in the Pacific ocean - 126 

Action in the harbour of Valparaiso and loss of the Essex 133 

RetCirn of captain Porter - - - 141 

The Alligator - - - - 142 

Commodore Rodgers - - . - J43 

Peacock and Epervier - - - - 143 

Cruise of the Wasp - - - - 146 

Capture of the Reindeer - - - 146 

Avon - - » 147 

Loss of the President - - - . - 148 

Capture of the Cyane and Levant - - 151 

Blockade of Chesapeake and Delaware bays - - 159 

Schooner Lottery - - - - 160 

Privateer Dolphin - - - - 160 

Attack on Havre de Grace - - - 160 

Crany island - - - - 161 

Hampton _ « _ 162 



CONTENTS. V 

Schooner Asp - _ _ _ 1^2 

Torpedo - - _ _ 162 

Attack on Lewistown ». - _ 164 

Gunboat action - - - - 165 

Events on lake Erie - <- . - 165 

Capture of the British fleet - - ' - 168 

Events on lake Ontario - ^ . - 173 

Events on lake Champlain - - - 187 

Battle of Plattsburg - - - - 188 

Letter of commodore M'Donough - - . 193 

Attack on Baltimore - - - - 198 

Battle of New Orleans - - - 204 

President and Plantagent - - - 215 
Escape of the Constituti«)n from the Tenedos andEndymion 218 

Hornet and Penguin - - - 220 

Escape of the Hornet - - - - 222 

The Atlas - , - . 224 

The Young Eagle - - - 225 

The Montgomery - - . . 225 

The Dolphin - - - _ 226 

The Rolla - - - _ 226 

The Hazard - - - . 226 

The Comet - - - . 227 

The General Armstrong , - _ 232 

The Young Teazer - - - 233 

The Decatur - - . « 233 

The Saratoga - - . _ 236 

The General Armstrong - , . _ 237 

Letter from captain Gamble - - . 243 

Sketch of the Algerine war - - - 253 

Naval poetry - - - _ 263 

List of the American Navy - . _ 279 



NAVAL BATTLES. ' 



The benefits to be derived from historical records 
of noble achievements whether physical or moral are 
universally acknowledged. The ambition of the 
student, the warrior, or the statesman is stimulated 
l)y the accounts transmitted in this manner ; and the 
Patriotic of every age and nation have heard with 
pride the heroic deeds of their countrymen recounted, 
whether it be done by the faithful pen of the impar- 
tial historian, or recorded in the page of Historical 
Romance. It is with the desire of commemorating 
some of the most remarkable exploits of our gallant 
•seaman that the following plain and unvarnished de- 
scription of the Naval Battles fought by them since 
the establishment of the American Navy is offered to 
the public ; believing it will be useful to the whole 
American People and especially to the rising genera- 
tion, prompting them to emulate the Heroic daring, 
and that high minded self respect which has uniform- 
ly distinguished the American Commander. No one 
can read these pages without being filled with admi- 
ration at the vast majority of victories which have 
crowned the efforts of our Gallant Navy. Indeed 



8 NAVAL BATTLES. 

during the continuance of the late war "with Great 
Britain there are but two instances of the loss of an 
American Ship where the forces were nearly equal, 
viz. — the Chesapeake and the Argus ; and we cer- 
tainly cannot consider the former as having been of 
equal force with the Shannon, although the number 
of guns were so nearly equal, (the Shannon having in 
all 53 guns and the Chesapeake 49) on account of the 
difference in the crews, the Shannon having been at 
sea long enough to discipline hers completely, while 
the crew of the Chesapeake were scarcely out of 
port. Nor is the meed of praise due to our gallant 
Tars for bravery in action alone, for we have abun- 
dant evidence in the following pages of very superior 
skill in Naval Tactics and Seamanship, as well as in 
battle. There is not probably on the pages of histo- 
ry a more brilliant illustration of these qualities than 
in the escape of the Constitution from the British 
Fleet in July, 1812. In every naval engagement 
seamen alone can tell how much depends upon skill 
and celerity in managing the ship. 

The accounts are carefully selected from the best 
authorities and uninteresting detail as much as possi- 
ble avoided. It has been attempted to preserve a 
connected narrative as far as the nature of the under- 
taking would permit, and to make the work some- 
thing more than a mere collection of official docu- . 
ments and extracts from log books. The limited 
size of the volume does not admit of so complete a 
history as some readers would wish, but it embraces a 
more comprehensive view of the operations of our 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



Navy than any other publication, and the engravings 
are done in a style of elegance which does honor to 
the artists who executed them. 



In the revolutionary war, which gave indepen- 
dence and character to the United States of Ame- 
rica, several armed vessels were in commission, and 
performed exploits, that confer immortality on the 
names of Barry, Manly, Jones, and others. Dur- 
ing the latter years of the contest, from the want 
of finances, the depreciation of paper currency, andj 
perhaps, still more, from the alliance with France 
supplyin,^ a naval force, little was done to augment, 
or even to maintain, that of our own nation ; and, 
shortly after the close of the war, the few ships, 
that had constituted the navy, were sold by order 
of Congress. 

The depredations committed on our commerce 
in the Mediterranean, by the piratical corsairs of 
the Barbary powers, induced Congress, in 1794, to 
undertake the formation of a naval force for its 
protection. Four ships, of forty-four guns each, 
and two of thirty-six, were ordered to be built. — 
The act authorizing the construction of these ships, 
passed the twenty-seventh day of March, which 
may be considered as the day that gave existence to 
the navy of the United States. 
2 



10 NAVAL BATTLES. 

. -J* 

The creation and establishment of a permanent and 
efficient naval force, for the protection of commerce 
and the defence of the seacoast in case of war, had 
always been advocated by Mr. John Adams ; and 
during the term of his presidencjy, from March, 1797, 
to March, 1801, the object was pursued with great 
zeal and energy. To no individual is the nation 
more indebted, than to Mr. Adams ; and posterity 
will hail him as the father of the American navy. 
In 1798, there were in service twenty vessels ; in 
1799, upwards of thirty. A law was passed, direct- 
ing the building of six seventy-four gun ships, which, 
however, was never carried into effect. In 1801, 
the navy consisted of the following ships : 

United States 44 guns 

President 44r 

Constitution 44 

Philadelphia 44 

Chesapeake 36 

Constellation 36 . 

Congress 36 

New- York 36 

Boston 52 

Essex 32 

Adams 32 

John Adams 32 

General Greene 32 
All the other public vessels were ordered by "Con- 
gress to be sold, and the building of those authorized 
was suspended. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 11 



CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTON. 

Was one of the first six captains appointed by the 
President, at the organization of the naval establish- 
ment, in 1794. He was directed to superintend the 
building of the Constellation, of 36 guns, at Balti- 
more, and to take the command of her when equipped 

The commerce of the United States having suf- 
fered much from the ravages of the French, both in 
national vessels and privateers. Captain Truxton was 
sent with a squadron to the West Indies for its pro- 
tection. 

On the ninth of February, 1799, at noon, the is- 
land of Nevis bearing w. s. w. five leagues distant, 
the Constellation being then alone, a large ship was 
discovered to the southward, which proved to be the 
French frigate Insurgente, of forty guns and four 
hundred and seventeen men. Commodore Truxton 
bore down upon her, and, at a quarter past three, 
ranging along side, poured a broadside into her, which 
was immediately returned. After a warm action of 
an hour and a quarter, the French ship struck ; 
twenty-nine of her crew were killed, and forty-four 
wounded. The Constellation had only one man kill ■ 
ed, and two wounded. 

On the first of February, 1800, the Constellation 
being alone in the road of Basseterre, at half past 
seven a. m. Guadaloupe bearing eastward, about five 
leagues distant, a sail was discovered, which, on ap- 



12 NAVAL BATTLES. 

preaching, commodore Truxton ascertained to be a 
heavy Freiich frigate, of fifty-four guns. He im- 
mediately prepared his ship for action. He con- 
tinued the chase till one the next day, when a fresh 
wind enabled him to gaiii upon her. At eight in the 
evening, having got within hail, he hoisted his en- 
sign ; had all the candles in the battle lanterns light- 
ed ; and was in the lee gang way, ready to speak to 
the French ship, when she commenced a fire from her 
stern and quarter guns at the rigging of the Constel- 
lation. Having repeated the orders he had before 
given, commodore Truxton, in a few moments gain- 
ed a position on the weather of the French ship, 
which enabled him effectually to return her broad- 
side. After a close and severe action of about four 
hours, the fire of the French ship was completely 
silenced, and she sheered off, at the moment when 
Truxton considered her as his prize, and had ordered 
the tattered sails of the Constellation to be trimmed. 
It was then perceived that the main-mast was totally 
unsupported by rigging, every shroud having been 
shot away. All efforts to support the mast were use- 
less; it went over the side in a few minutes, carrying 
all the top-men with it.* Before the ship could be 
cleared of the shattered fragments, which was ac- 
complished in about an hour, the French ship had 

• Jambs Jarvis, of New- York, a midshipman, commanded 
the main-top. • He was apprized of his danger by a seaman, but 
had so high an opinion of the duty of an officer, that he replied, 
" If the mast goes, we must go with it." This soon happened, 
and only one of the men was saved. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 13 

effected her escape. Her disappearance was so sud- 
den, that, the people on board the Constellation sup- 
posed she had sunk. She arrived at Curracoa, five 
days after the engagement, so shattered, that all her 
crew were continually employed at the pumps to 
keep her from sinking. She had one hundred and 
sixty men killed and wounded. Her captain stated 
that he had twice struck his colours ; but, owing to the 
darkness, it was not perceived on board the Constel- 
lation, Believing it was the determination of the 
American captain to sink him, he renewed the en- 
gagement from necessity. The Constellation had 
thirty-nine men killed and wounded. The French 
frigate was the Vengeance. 



CAPTAIN LITTLE— FRIGATE BOSTON. 

The United States frigate Boston, commanded by 
captain Little, being on a cruise, to protect the 
American commerce in the West Indies, in latitude 
22, 50, longitude 51, captured, on the 12th of Octo- 
ber, 1 800, after an action of an hour and forty min- 
utes, the French national corvette Le Berceau. The 
Boston mounted twenty-four 12, and eight 9 poun- 
ders, and had two hundred and thirty men, of whom 
six were killed, and eight wounded. Le Berceau 
was commanded by captain Senes, had twenty-two 
9, and two 12 pounders, on one deck, and two hun- 



14 NAVAL BATTLES* 

died and thirty men. She lost all her masts, and 
was otherwise much disabled. She had been out 
from Cayenne twenty five days, during which she 
had plundered two American vessels and made prize 
of one. On a former cruise slie had captured seve- 
ral American vessels. A variety of circumstances 
conspired to render this capture of much importance, 
Le Berceau was considered one of the fastest sailing 
corvettes in the French navy; she served as a look- 
out vessel to the French fleet for eighteen months, 
had frequently been chased by British cruisers, but 
never overtaken ; and had been very successful in 
capturing British, American, and Portuguese vessels ; 
and was bound on this cruise to intercept the Ameri- 
can Indiamen, and South American ships. Captain 
Senes had been post captain in the French navy for 
many years ; was a midshipman in count D'Estaing's 
fleet in the revolutionary war ; and was esteemed a 
brave and intelligent officer. Le Berceau lost in 
the engagement her first lieutenant, master, boat- 
swain, master-gunner, and pilot, besides a number of 
seamen. Captain Senes, and a commissioner, who 
was in Le Berceau, after being m the Boston fifteen 
days, were, at their request, permitted to go to Bar- 
badoes, on their parole. 

The Boston expended upwards of 27 cwt. of pow- 
der, upwards of 1500 round shot, besides double that 
number of chain, double-headed, and grape, during 
the action. Captain Little arrived, with his prize, 
at Boston, the 14th of November. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 15 

CAPTAIN STERRETT. 

In the month of August, 1801, Captain Sterrett, 
commander of the United States schooner Enter- 
prize, of twelve guns, and ninety men, fell in, off 
Malta, with a Tripolitan cruiser (^ fourteen guns and 
eighty-five men. A desperate conflict ensued, and 
had continued for nearly two hours, when the Tri- 
politan hauled down her colours. The crew of the 
Enterprize left their guns, and gave three cheers for 
the victory. Upon this, the cruiser poured a broadside 
into the Enterpize, hoisted her colours, and renew- 
ed the action with redoubled vigour. Her crew, 
brandishing their sabres, continually attempted to 
board. They were again overcome by the skilful 
crew pf the Enterprize, and struck a second time. 
Captain Sterrett then ordered the cruiser under his 
quarter, and kept his men at the guns. But the Tripo- 
litan had no sooner come to the position she was order- 
ed, than she renewed the action the third time, by 
pouring a broadside into the Enterprize. The Tripo- 
litans hoisted their bloody flag, and attempted to board. 
The indignant cry of " Fight on, and sink the per- 
fidious villains- to the bottom," was now heard from 
every part of the American schooner. Every effort 
was made by Captain Sterrett to ensure a complete 
victory. His superior skill in the management of 
his vessel enabled him to rake the corsair, fore and 
aft. A number of shot between wind and water, 
opened her sides for the sea to pour in. Fifty of her 
men were killed and wounded. Her treacherous 



Id naval battles. 

commander, perceiving the destruction of his vessel 
and crew inevitable, implored for quarters. Bending 
in a supplicating posture over the waste of his ves- 
sel, he threw his colours into the sea, to convince the 
American captain that he would no more attempt to 
resist. Captain Sterrett, actuated by the sentiment 
of true bravery, stopped the effusion of blood, though 
the treacherous conduct of the Tripolitans merited no 
mercy. His instructions not permitting him to make 
a prize of the cruiser, he ordered her crew to throw 
overboard all their guns, swords, pistols, ammunition, 
^c. and then to go and tell their countrymen the treat- 
ment they might expect from a nation, determined 
to pay tribute only in powder and ball. 

The Enterprize, in this engagement of three hours, 
did not lose a man. Captain Sterrett, after paying 
every attention to the wounded Tripolitans, ordered 
the cruiser to be dismantled. Her masts were cut 
down. A spar was raised, to which was hung a tat- 
tered sail, as a flag. In this condition she was sent 
to Tripoli. On her arrival there, the indignation, 
excited by her defeat, was so great, that the bashaw 
ordered the wounded captain to be mounted on a 
jack-ass, and paraded through the streets as an ob- 
ject of public scorn ; and then to receive five hun- 
dred bastinadoes. The Tripolitans were so terrified 
at this event, that the sailors abandoned the cruisers 
then fitting out. Not a man could be procured to 
navigate them.* 

* History of the war between the United States and Tripoli 
p. 91, 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



17 



SCHOONER EXPERIMENT.— LIEUT. STEWART. 

In July, 1800, lieutenant Charles Stewart was ap- 
pointed to the command of the Experiment, of twelve 
guns, and ordered to cruise in the West Indies. He 
arrived on that station the first of September, and the 
same night fell in with the Frenqh schooner Deux 
Amis, of eight guns, which he engaged and captur- 
ed, without any loss, after an action of ten minutes. 

Soon, after, while cruising near the island of Bar- 
buda, he discovered a brig of war, and a three-masted 
schooner, standing for the Experiment, under a press 
of sail, and displaying English colours. The Exper- 
imeiit was hove to, and the British signal of the day 
was made, which not being answered by the strange 
vessels by the time -they were within gun-shot, that 
signal was hauled down, and the Experiment stood 
away with all sail set. A chase w^as now commenced 
by the enemy, and continued for about two hours ; 
when finding they were outsailed by the Experiment, 
they relinquished the pursuit, and bore away under 
easy sail, firing a gun to windward, and hoisting 
French colours. Lieutenant Stewart now manoeuvred 
his schooner so as to bring her in the enemy's wake 
to windward, when a chase was made on his part, 
which continued the whol-e day before the wind, each 
vessel crowding all her canvass. At eight o'clock 
3 



18 NAVAL BATTLES, 

at night, the Experiment dosed with the three-mast 
^ scFiooner, which was the sternmost of the hostile 
vessels; and having taken a position on her lar- 
board-quarter, opened a fire upon her from the great 
guns and small arms, which in about five minutes, 
compelled her to strike. She was immediately ta- 
ken possession of, and proved to be the French 
schooner of war Diana, of fourteen guns and sixty- 
five men, commanded by M. Peraudeau, lieutenant 
de Vaisseau. The detention occasioned by removing 
the prisoners, enabled the brig of war to escape. 
She mounted, as was afterwards learned, eighteen 
guns, and had a crew of one hundred and twenty 
men. The Experiment proceeded to St. Christo- 
pher's with her prize. 

On the 14th of December, she fell in with the 
privateer Flambeau, of sixteen guns and ninety men, 
with a prize brig, steering for Marigalante. The 
breeze being light and the engmy to wiijidward, it 
was late in the afternoon before there was any pros- 
pect of closing with him. Notwithstanding all the 
exertions of the Experiment, the Flambeau escaped 
in shore ; but her prize was retaken. This vessel 
.proved to be' the Zebra of and from Baltimore, laden 
with flour. During the remainder of this cruise, 
the Experiment recaptured several American vessels 
sometimes as many as two or three in a day, and 
thus rescued American property to a considerable 
amount. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 19 



OPERATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. 

As every incident and anecdote connected with 
the Tripolitan war has become extremely interest- 
ing to the publick, we trust that the following cir- 
cumstantial, though very imperfect, narrative of the 
operations of the squadron under Commodore 
Preble, will be read with satisfaction. 

The Tripolitan cruisers continuing to harass the 
vessels of the United States, Congress determined, 
in 1803, to act with greater vigour against them, 
and to fit out a fleet that should not only repel their 
unprovoked aggression, but also chastise their in- 
solence. The squadron consisted of the Constitu- 
tion, 44 guns ; the Philadelphia, 44 ; the Argus, 
18; the Syren, 16; the Nautilus, 16; the Vixen, 
16; and the Enterprize, 14. Commodore Preble 
was appointed to the command of this squadron, in 
May, 1803. 

On the thirteenth of August, commodore Preble 
sailed in the Constitution for the Mediterranean. 
On his passage he brought to a Moorish frigate, 
which he suspected had been authorized to cruise 
against American vessels ; but her papers not sup- 
porting such a suspicion, he dismissed her. When 
he arrived at Gibraltar, he found that our affairs with 
Morocco had assumed a very disagreeable aspect. 

Captain William Bainbridge, commanding the fri- 
gate Philadelphia, had sailed in July ; and, on the 



20 NAVAL BATTLES. 

wenty-sixth of August, had captured the Moorish 
ip Mirboha, of twenty-two guns, and one hundred 
and ten men. An order to cruise for American ves- 
sels was discovered among her papers. There was 
no signature to this order. The captain said it was 
delivered to him sealed, by the Moorish governour 
of Tangiers, who ordered him not to open it until at 
sea. By the authority of this order he had captured 
the American brig Celia, then in company. In May, 
captain Rodgers had detained a vessel, under Moor- 
ish colours, attempting to enter Tripoli, then actually 
blockaded by him. On board of her were four guns, 
and other contraband articles. The emperour denied 
having authorized the latter ; and the governour of 
Tangiers disavowed having given any orders to cruise 
for Americans to the former. Commodore Preble, 
the day after his arrival, wrote to the American con- 
sul at Tangiers, that peace with the emperour. of 
Morocco was desirable ; that since he disavowed the 
acts of hostility, committed by his subjects, he should 
punish as pirates all Moorish cruisers attempting to 
capture American vessels.* 

Commodore Rodgers, who, with the New York 
and John Adams, frigates, was under orders to re- 
turn to the United States, consented to remain a few 
days on the station, and to proceed with commodore 
Preble to Tangier bay, to effect an adjustment of 
existing differences. 

On the seventeenth of August, commodore Preble 
appeared in Tangier bay, and hoisted a white flag 

* Port Folio, vol. iii. p. 361. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 21 

in token of peace. The American consul was not 
permitted to go on board. Two sentinels were 
placed at his door. 

About this time another act of hostility was com- 
mitted at Mogadore. It was an order given to 
detain all American vessels. The brig Hannah, of 
Salem, was actually seized. 

This determined the commodore to take a more 
decided course. He ordered his squadron to bring 
in all Moorish vessels for examination. He despatch- 
ed vessels to cruise off Mogadore, Salee, Zarach 
and Tetuan, while he himself entered the bay of 
Tangiers from time to time. The Philadelphia and 
Vixen were ordered to lie before Trippli. 

On the 5th of October, when the emperour of Mo- 
rocco was expected at Tangiers, commodore Preble 
anchored the Constitution and Nautilus in the bay, 
within half a mile of the circular battery. In the 
afternoon of the 6th, he /was joined by the frigates 
New York and John Adams. The ships were con- 
stantly kept clear for action, and the men night and 
4ay at their quarters.' The emperour arrived on the 
Gt:h, with a great body of troops, who encamped on 
the beach opposite the American squadron. The 
commodore saluted the emperour with twenty-one 
guns, which were retured by an equal number from 
the fort. A present of bullocks, sheep, and fowls, 
was sent to the iVmerican squadron, as a token;of 
the emperour's good will. On the 8th, the emperour, 
'Attended by a body ^of troops, came to the beach ifor 



22 NAVAL BATTLES. 

the purpose of viewing the American squadron. The 
Constitution again complimented him with twenty- 
one guns, with which he was much gratified.. 

The next day the American consul informed the 
commodore that the emperour had given orders for 
the American brig, detained at Mogadore, to be re- 
leased ; and that he would give audience to the 
American commodore and consul on the following 
Monday. 

On the day appointed, the commodore, accompa- 
nied by four persons, went on shore. He ordered 
the officer, commanding the squadron during his ab- 
sence, to fire upon the town, if he should be forci- 
bly detained ; and not to enter into any treaty for 
his release, nor be influenced by any considerations 
for his personal safety. When arrived at the castle, 
they were conducted through a double file of soldiers 
to the emperour. The commodore, on entering, was 
requested to put away his side arms ; with this he 
declined complying ;• and was permitted to retain 
them. The emperour expressed much sorrow and 
regret that' any difference had arisen ; for it was his 
desire to be at peace with the United States. He 
denied having given any hostile orders ; promised to 
restore all American vessels and property, detained 
by the authority of any^ of his governours ; and re- 
new"fed and confirmed the treaty made with the Uni- 
ted States in 1786. The commodore and consul, on 
the part of the United States, promised that the ves- 
sels and property belonging to the emperour/ should 



t. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 23 

be restored ; and the orders for capturing them re- 
voked. 

Commodore Preble was now at liberty to direct 
his 'whole attention to Tripoli. The season was, 
however, too far advanced for active operations. 

On the 31st of October, the Philadelphia, being, 
at nine o'clock in the morning, about five leagues to 
the westward of Tripoli, discovered a sail in shore, 
standing before the wind to the eastward. The 
Philadelphia immediately gave chase. The sail 
hoisted Tripolitan colours, and continued her course 
near the shore. The Philadelphia opened a ifre 
upon her, and continued it, till half past eleven ; 
when, being in seven fathoms water, and finding her 
fire could not prevent the vessel entering Tripoli, she 
gave up the pursuit. In beating off, she ran on a 
rock, not laid down in any chart, distant four and a 
half miles from the town. A boat was immediately 
lowered to sound. The greatest depth of water was 
found to be astern. In order to back her off, all sails 
were then laid aback ; the top-gallant-sails loosened ; 
three anchors thrown away from the bows ; the water 
in the hold started; and all the guns thrown over- 
board, excepting a few abaft to defend the ship 
against the attacks of the Tripolitan gun-boats, then 
j&ring at her. All this, however, proved ineffectual; 
as did also the attempt to lighten her forward by cut- 
ting away her foremast. The Philadelphia had al- 
ready withstood the attack of the numerous gun-boats 
for four hours, when a large reinforcement coming 
out of Tripoli, and being herself deprived of everjr 



24 NAVAL BATTLES. 

means of resistance, and defence, she was forced to 
strike, about sunset. Tlie Tripolitans immediately 
took possession of her, and made prisoners of the 
officers and men, in number three hundred. Forty- 
eight hours afterwards, the wind blowing in shore, 
the Tripolitans got the frigate off, and towed her into 
the harbour. 

On the 14th of December, commodore Preble 
sailed from Malta, in company with the Enterprize, 
commanded by lieutenant Stephen Decatur. On 
the 23d, the latter captured a ketch in sight of 
Tripoli ; which place she had left the preceding 
night, bound to Bengaza. She was under Turkish 
colours, and was navigated by Turks and Greeks. 
On board of her were two Tripolitan officers of dis- 
tinction, a number of Tripolitan soldiers, and about 
forty blacks belonging to the bashaw and his sub- 
jects. The commodore had at first determined to 
release the vessel and men claimed by the Turkish 
captain ; and only detain the Tripolitans, about 
sixty in number, as prisoners. But before this de- 
termination could be put in execution, he ascertain- 
ed, that this same captain had been very active in 
assisting to take the Philadelphia. He had, on that 
occasion, received on board his vessel one hundred 
armed Tripolitans ; had changed his own colours 
for that of the enemy ; had attacked the frigate ; 
and, when she was boarded, had plundered the offi- 
cers. This determined the commodore to retain 
the vessel. As she was in no condition to be sent 
to the United States, he forwarded her papers to 



NAVAL BATTLES. 25 

government. Soon after he had her appraised ; 
qnd took her into the service as the ketch Intrepid. 

When lieutenant Decatur was informed of the loss 
<;f the Philadelphia, he immediately formed a plan 
■ ijf recapturing and destroying her, which he proposed 
to commodore Preble. At jfirst the commodore 
thought the projected enterprise too hazardous ; but 
at length granted his consent. Lieutenant Decatur 
then selected for the enterprise the ketch Intrepid, 
lately captured by him. This vessel he manned with 
seventy volunteers, chiefly of his own crew ; and on 
the third of February sailed from Syracuse, accompa- 
nied by the brig Siren, lieutenant Stewart. The 
Siren was to aid the boats ; and, in case it should 
be deemed expedient to use the Intrepid as a fire 
ship, to receive her crew. 

After a tempestuous passage of fifteen days, the two 
vessels arrived off the harbour of Tripoli, towards 
the close of day. It was determined that at ten 
o'clock in the evening the Intrepid should enter the 
harbour, accompanied by the boats of the Siren. 
But a change of wind had separated the two vessels 
six or eight miles. As delay might prove fatal, lieu- 
tenant Decatur entered the harbour alone about eight 
o'clock. The Philadelphia lay within half gun sho 
of the Bashaw's castle and principal battery. On 
her starboard quarter lay two Tripolitan cruisers with- 
in two cables length; and on the starboard bow a 
number of gun-boats within half gun-shot. All her 
guns were mounted and loaded. Three hours werp, 
in consequence of the lightness of the wind, con- 



26 NAVAL BATTLES. 

sumed in passing threq miles, when, being within 
two hundred yards of the Philadelphia, they were 
hailed from her, and ordered to anchor on peril of be- 
ing fired into. The pilot on board the Intrepid' wa? 
ordered to reply, that all their anchors were lost. 
The Americans had advanced within fifty yards of 
the frigate, when the wind died away into a calm. 
Lieutenant Decatur ordered a rope to be taken out 
and fastened to the fore chains of the frigate, which 
was done, and the Intrepid was warped along side. 
It was not till then the Tripolitans suspected them 
to be an enemy ; and their confusion in consequence 
was great. As soon as the vessels was sufficiently 
near, lieutenant Decatur sprang on board the frigate, 
and was followed by midshipman Morris.* It was a 
minute before the remainder of the crew succeeded 
in mounting after them. But the Turks, crowded 
together on the quarter deck, were in too great con- 
sternation to take advantage of this delay. As soon 
as a sufficient number of Americans gained the deck 
th^y rushed upon the Tripolitans ; who were soon 
overpowered; and about twenty of them were kill- 
ed. After taking possession of the ship, a firing com- 
menced from the Tripolitan batteries and castle, and 
from two corsairs near the frigate ; a number of laun- 
ches were also seen rowing about in the harbour ; 
ivhereupon lieutenant Decatur resolved to remain in 
the frigate, for there he would be enabled to make the 
best defence. But perceiving that the launches kept 
Jit a distance, he ordered the frigate to be set on lire, 

* Now Captain Morris. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 27 

which was immediately done, and so effectually, that 
with difficulty was the Intrepid preserved. A favour- 
able breeze at this moment sprung up, which soon 
carried them out of the harbour. None of the Amer- 
icans were killed, and only four wounded. For this 
heroick achievement lieutenant Decatur was promot- 
ed to the rank of post captain. His commission 
was dated on the day he destroyed the Philadelphia. 

After the destruction of the Philadelphia frigate, 
commodore Preble was, during the spring and early 
part of the summer, employed in keeping up the 
blockade of the harbour of Tripoli, in preparing for 
an attack upon the town, and in cruising. A prize 
that had been taken was put in commission, and call- 
ed the Scourge. A loan of six gun-boats and two 
bomb-vessels, completely fitted for service, was ob- 
tained from the king of Naples. Permission was 
also given to take twelve or fifteen Neapolitans on 
board each bosit, to serve under the American flag. 

With this addition to his force, the commodore, o'j 
the 21st of July, joined the vessels off Tripoli. His 
squadron then consisted of the 

Frigate Constitution, 44 guns, 24 pounders. 



Brig Argus, 


18 


24 


. 1 Syren, 


18 


18 


>, Scourge, 






Schooner Vixen, 


16 


6 


'^.Nautilus, 


16 


6 


FLnterprize, 


• ■,12 


6 



Besides six gun-boats, carrying each a twenty-six 
brass pounder, aud two bomb-ketches, carrying each 



28 NAVAL BATTLES. 

a thirteen inch mortar. The number of men engag- 
ed in the service amounted to one thousand and sixty. 

On the Tripolitan castle and batteries, one hundred 
and fifteen guns were mounted : fifty-five of which 
were pieces of heavy ordnance ; the others long 
eighteen and twelve pounders, fn the harbour were 
nineteen gun-boats, carrying each a long brass eigh- 
teen or twenty-four pounder in the bow, and two 
howitzers abaft : also two schooners of eight guns 
each, a brig of ten, and two galleys, of four guns 
each. In addition to the ordinary Turkish garrison, 
and the crews of the armed vessels, estimated at three 
thousand, upwards of twenty thousand Arabs had 
been assembled for the defence of the city. 

The weather prevented the squadron from ap- 
proaching the city until the 28th, when it anchored 
within two miles and a half of the fortifications ; but 
the wind suddenly shifting, and increasing to a gale, 
the commodore was compelled to return. On the 
3d of August, he again approached to within two or 
three miles of the batteries. Having observed that sev- 
eral of the enemy's boats were stationed without the 
reef of rocks, covering the entrance of the harbour, 
he resolved to take advantage of this circumstance. 
He made signal fo^ the " squadron to come within 
speaking distance, to communicate to the several 
commanders his intention of attacking the shipping 
and batteries. The gun-boats and bomb-ketches j 
were immediately manned, and prepared for ac- 
tion. The former were arranged in two divisions 
of three each. The first divison was under the com- 



NAVAL BATTLES. 29 

mand of captain Somers, on board the boat No. 1 ; 
lieutenant James Decatur commanded the boat No. 
2; and lieutenant Blake, No. 3. The second divi- 
sion was commanded by captain Decatur, in No. 4 ; 
lieutenant Bainbridge commanded No. 5 ; and lieu- 
tenant Trippe No. 6. The two bomb-ketches were 
commanded, the one by lieutenant commandant 
Dent ; the other by Mr. Robinson, first lieutenant 
of the commodore's ship. At half past one, the 
squadron stood in for the batteries. At two, the 
gun-boats were cast off. At half past two, signal 
was made for the bomb-ketches and gun-boats to 
advance and attack, At three quarters past two, 
the signal was given for a genercll action. It com- 
menced by the bomb-ketches throwing shells into the 
town. A tremendous fire immediately commenced 
from the enemies batteries and vessels, of at least 
two hundred guns. It was immediately returned b}' 
the American squadron, now within musket-shot of 
the principal batteries. 

At this moment, captain Decatur, with the three 
gun-boats under his command, attacked the enemy's 
eastern division, consisting of nine gun-boats. He 
was soon in the midst of them. The fire of the 
cannon and musketry was immediately changed to a 
desperate attack with bayofiet, spear, sabre, &:c. 
Captain Decatur having grappled a Tripolitan boat, 
and boarded her with only fifteen Americans ; in ten 
minutes her decks were cleared, and she was cap- 
tured. Three Americans were wounded. At this 
moment captain Decatur was informed that the gun- 



30 NAVAL BATTLES. 

boat commanded hy his brother, had engaged and 
captured a boat belonging to the enemy ; but that 
his brother, as he was stepping on board, was 
treacherously shot by the Tripolitan commander, 
who made off with his boat. Captain Decatur im- 
mediately pursued the murderer, who Was retreat- 
ing within the lines ; having succeeded in coming 
along side, he boarded with only eleven men. A 
doubtful contest of twenty minutes ensued. Deca- 
tur immediately attacked the Tripolitan commander, 
who was armed with a spear and cutlass. In parry- 
ing the Turk's spear, Decatur broke his sword close 
to the hilt, and received a slight wound in the right 
arm and breast ; but having seized the spear he 
closed ; and, after a violent struggle, both fell, De- 
catur uppermost. The Turk then drew a dagger 
from his belt : but Decatur caught hold of his arm, 
drevra pistol from his pocket, and shot him. While 
they were struggling, the crew of both vessels rushed 
to the assistance of their commanders. And so 
desperate had the contest around them been, that 
it was with difficulty Decatur could extricate himself 
from the killed and wounded that had fallen around 
him. In this affair an American manifested the most 
horoick courage and attachment to his commander. 
Decatur, in the struggle, was attacked in the rear 
by a Tripolitan"; who had aimed a blow at his head, 
which must have proved fatal, had not this generous- 
minded tar, then dangerously wounded and deprived 
of the use of both his hands, rushed between him and 
the sabre, the stroke of which he received in his head 



NAVAL BATTLES. 31 

whereby his scull was fractured. This hero, howev- 
er survived, and now receives a pension from his 
grateful country. All the Americans but four were 
wounded. Captain Decatur brought both his prizes 
safe to the American squadron. 

Lieutenant Trippe boarded one of the enemy's 
large boats, with only a midshipman, Mr. Jonathan 
Henly, and nine men ; his boat falling off before any 
more could join him. He was thus left either to per- 
ish, or to conquer thirty-six men, with only eleven, 
Though at first, the victory seemed doubtful, yet, in 
a few minutes, the Tripolitans were subdued ; four- 
teen of them were killed, and twenty-two taken pris- 
oners. Seven of these last were severely wounded. 
Lieutenant Trippe received eleven sabre wounds, 
some of them dangerous. The blade of his sword 
bending, he closed with his antagonist. Both fell. 
In the struggle, Trippe wrested the Turk's sword 
from him, and, with it, stabbed him to the heart. 

Lieutenant Bainbridge had his lateen .yards shot 
away. This rendered all his exertions to get along 
side the enemy's boats of no effect. But his brisk 
and well directed fire, within musket shot, did great 
execution. At one time his boat grounded within 
pistol shot of one of the enemy's batteries. He was 
there exposed to the fire of musketry ; but, by his 
address and courage, he extricated himself from his 
dangerous situation. 

Captain Somers was not able to get far enough to 
windward, to co-operate with Decatur. He, how- 
ever, bore down upon the leeward division of the en- 



32 NAVAL BATTLES. 

emy. With his single boat, he attacked five full 
manned Tripolitan boats, within pistol shot. He de- 
feated, and drove them in a shattered condition, and 
with the loss of many lives, to take refuge under the 
rocks. 

The two bomb vessels kept their station, and threw 
a great many shells into the town. Five of the ene- 
my's gun-boats, and two galleys, composing their 
centre division, stationed within the rocks, being re- 
inforced, and all joined by the gun-boats that had been 
driven in, twice attempted to row out and surround 
the gun-boats and prizes of the Americans. They 
were, however, prevented by the vigilance of the com- 
modore, who made signal for the brigs and schooners 
to cover them. This was properly executed by 
these vessels. Their conduct was excellent during 
the whole of the engagement, and they annoyed the 
enemy exceedingly. The fire from the Constitution 
did considerable execution, and kept the enemy's 
flotilla in constant disorder. She was several times 
within two cables' length of the rocks, and three of 
the batteries. As soon as her broadside was brought 
to bear on any of the batteries, it was immediately 
silenced. But having no large vessels to ■ secure 
these advantages, the fire was recommenced as soon 
as she changed her "position. 

At half past four, the wind having inclined to the 
northward, and the enemy's flotilla having retreated 
to a station which -covered them from the fire of the 
Americans, signal was made for the gun-boats and 
bombs to retire from the action. This was effect- 



NAVAL BATTLES. 33 

ed, and in fifteen minutes the squadron was out of 
the reach of the enemy's shot. The squadron was 
more than two hours within grape shot distance of 
the enemy's batteries, which kept up a constant fire. 
The damage sustained by the Americans was by no 
means proportionate to the apparent danger. The 
frigate Constitution was struck in her mainmast by 
a thirty-two pound ball, her sails and rigging were 
considerably cut, and one of her quarter-deck guns 
was injured by a round shot ; not a man^ however, 
was killed on board of her. The other vessels suf- 
fered in their rigging, and had several men wound- 
ed ; but none were killed, excepting lieutenant De- 
catur. On the part of the enemy the effect of this 
engagement was very different. The boats cap- 
tured by the Americans had one hundred and three 
men on board, forty-seven of whom were killed and 
twenty-six wounded. Three other boats were sunk 
with all the men on board of them. Numbers were 
also swept from the decks of the other vessels in the 
harbour. On shore, several Tripolitans were kill- 
ed and wounded ; a number of guns in the batteries 
were dismounted and the town Was considerably in- 
jured. 

When the squadron was standing in for the attack, 
the bashaw affected to despise them. After having 
surveyed them from his palace, he said, " they will 
mark their distance for tacking ; they are a sort of 
Jews, who have no notion of fighting." The palace 
and terraces of the houses were crowded with spec- 
tators to behold the chastisement the bashaw's boats 
5 



34 NAVAL BATTLES. 

would give the American vessels if they approach- 
ed too near. Momentary, however, was this exul- 
tation. Scarcely had the battle commenced, when 
no one was to be seen, except at the batteries. 
Many of the inhabitants fled to the country : and the 
bashaw retreated to his bomb-proof room. 

On the 5th of August the commodore prevailed on 
a French privateer, that had left Tripoli in the 
morning, to return with eleven wounded TripoHtans, 
whose wounds had been carefully dressed. The 
commodore also sent a letter to the bashaw's 
minister. The prisoners Muformed the prince, that 
the Americans in battle where fiercer than lions, but 
in the treatment of their prisoners, they were even 
more kind than the mussulmen. The bashaw at 
first misunderstood the motive of sending these men 
but when informed that it was done through motives 
of humanity, he professed to be pleased, and said that 
if he took any wounded Americans, he should ia 
like manner, restore them : but he would not release 
any of the crew of the Philadelphia. 

On the 7th the privateer returned with a letter 
from the French consul, signifying, that the bashaw 
would probably treat on more reasonable terms. No- 
thing, however, definitive or satisfactory was pro- 
posed. The terms intimated were considerably high- 
er than the commodore felt willing, or thought himself 
authorized to accept. He therefore prepared for a 
second attack. The bomb-ketches, commanded by 
lieutenants Crane and Thorn, were to take a station 
in a small bay west of the town, where, without be- 



NAVAL BATTLES. 35 

ing much exposed, they might throw their shells with 
great effect. The gun-boats were to attack a seven 
gun battery. The brigs and schooners were to sup- 
port them, in case the enemy's flotilla should ven- 
ture out. At half-past two, the action commenced. 
In the course of two hours, six of the seven guns in 
the battery were silenced. During the action, forty 
eight shells and about five hundred round shot were 
thrown into the town and batteries. The Tripolitan 
galleys manceuvred to gain a position that might en- 
able them to cut off the retreat of the American gun- 
boats ; but the large vessels defeated their design. 
One of the American prize boats, taken in the first 
attack, was blown up by a red-hot shot from the bat- 
tery passing through her magazine. She had on 
board twenty-eight men, ten of whom were killed, 
and six wounded : among the former were James 
Caldwell, first lieutenant of the Siren, and J. Dorset, 
midshipman. Mr. Spence, midshipman, and eleven 
men, were taken up unhurt. When the explosion 
took place, this young officer was superintending the 
loading of a gun; having discharged the piece, he 
with the survivers jumped into the sea. They were 
soon taken up by another boat. 

At eight in the evening of the same day, the John 
Adams, Captain Chauncy, joined the Squadron. By 
him the Commodore was informed, that four frigates 
were on their passage ; also, that by the appoint- 
ment of a senior officer to one of the frigates, he 
would be superseded in his command. The govern- 
ment was highly satisfied with the conduct of the 



36 NAVAL BATTLES. 

commodore ; but had not a sufficient number of cap- 
tains juniors to the commodore to supply all the fri- 
gates with commanders ; nor had information of his 
brilliant success as yet reached America. 
. The John Adams having been sent out as a trans- 
port, no assistance could, for the present, be received 
from her. All her guns were stowed by the kelson, 
and their carriages put away on board of the other 
frigates. As these last were all to sail four days 
after the John Adams, further operations were sus- 
pended in expectation of their arrival. 

On the 9th, the commodore reconnoitred the harbor, 
in the brig Argus. Next day a flag of truce was seen 
flying on the shore. The commodore sent a boat, 
but which, however, was not permitted to land her 
men. They returned with a letter from the French 
Consul. By it the commodore was informed that 
the bashaw would accept five hundred dollars for 
the ransom of each prisoner, and put an end to the 
war without any annuity for peace. The sum de- 
manded amounted to about one hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars. This the commodore rejected ; 
but for the sake of the capfives, and to prevent fur- 
ther effusion of blood, he offered eighty thousand 
dollars as ransom, and ten thousand dollars as pre- 
sents. The bashaw, however, suspended the nego- 
tiations, and said he would wait the result of another 
attack. 

On the night of the 23d, the bomb-ketches were 
sent under the protection of the gun-boats, to bom- 
bard the town. The bombardment commenced at 



NAVAL BATTLES. 37 

two A. M. and continued till day-break ; but without 
much effect. 

The weather being favorable on the 27th the com- 
modore stood in for Tripoli, and anchored the Con- 
stitution two miles n. by e. from fort English. The 
light vessels kept under way. As a number of offi- 
cers and seamen of the Constitution were employed 
in the boat, captain Chauncy, several of his officers, 
and about seventy seamen, volunteered their servi- 
ces on board her. 

The gun-boats, accompanied by the Siren, Argus, 
Vixen, Nautilus, Enterprize, and the boats of the 
squadron, anchored at three in the morning within 
pistol shot of the enemy's lines. With springs on 
their cables, they commenced a brisk fire on the ship- 
ping, town, batteries, and castle. It was warmly re- 
turned from the enemy's batteries. The boats of the 
scjMadron remained with the gun-boats to assist in 
boarding the flotilla in case it should come out. The 
brigs and schooners kept under way, to harass the ene- 
my, and to support the gun-boats. At daylight, the 
commodore, apprehensive that the ammunition of the 
gun-boats might be nearly expended, weighed an- 
chor, and stood in under the direct fire of fort Eng- 
lish, and of the castle, crown and mole batteries. 
He made signal for the gun-boats to retire from ac- 
tion. Having arrived at a good distance for firing 
at thirteen Tripolitan gun-boats, and galleys, en- 
gaged with the American boats, he discharged a 
broadside of round and grape shot at them. One o( 
them was sunk ; two were disabled ; and the remain- 



38 NAVAL BATTLES. 

der put to flight. The commodore then contmued 
running in until within musket shot of the batteries 
He hove to, fired three hundred round shot, besides 
grape and canister, into the bashaw^'s castle, town 
and batteries. The castle and two of the batteries 
were silenced. A little after six he hauled off. The 
gun-boats fired four hundred round shot, besides 
grape and cannister, apparently with much effect. 
The result of this attack was serious on shore. A 
thirty-six pound ball penetrated the castle, and en- 
tered the apartment of the prisoners. Considerable 
damage was done to the houses. Several lives were 
lost. A boat from the John Adams, with a master's 
mate and eight men on board, was sunk by a double 
headed shot, which killed three seamen and badly 
wounded another. 

The French consul, immediately after the attack, 
renewed the negotiations for peace. They were, 
however, broken off", in consequence, he thought, of 
one of the vessels of the squadron approaching the 
harbour as a cartel. This the bashaw interpreted as 
a proof of discouragement on the part of the Ameri- 
cans. 

On the 3d of September, the bomb-ketches being 
repaired, and also the damages sustained by the other 
vessels in the action of the 27th of August, the com- 
modore resolved on another attack. The action 
commenced between three and four o'clock, and soon 
became general. As the American gun-boats bore 
down, the boats and galleys gave away, and retreat- 
ed under cover of the musketry, on shore. The 



NAVAL BATTLES. 39 

brigs, schooners and gun-boats, pursued as far as the 
depth of the water would permit, and within mus- 
ket shot of fort English. The action in this quarter 
was divided. The brigs and schooners, with one di- 
vision of the gun-boats engaged the fort. The oth- 
er division continued engaged with the Tripolitan 
boats' and galleys. 

The two- bomb-ketches, while throwing their 
shells inta the town were exposed to a direct fire from 
the bashaw's castle, from the crown, mole, and sev- 
eral other batteries. The commodore, perceiving 
their danger, ran his ship between them and the bat- 
teries, within musket shot. Seventy guns were 
brought to bear on him from the batteries. But he 
discharged eleven broadsides with so much effect, 
that he silenced the principal batteries, and injured 
the others, and also the town considerably. The 
wind veering to the northward, and it beginning to 
blow fresh, the commodore, at half past four p. m. 
gave signal to retire from the action under cover of 
the Constitution. Though the frigates and vessels 
were much damaged in this engagement, not a man 
was lost. 

The bomb-vessel, commanded by lieutenant Rob- 
inson, had all her shrouds shot away, and was so 
much damaged in her hull, as to be with difficulty 
kept above water. The Argus received a thirty- 
two pound ball in her hull. It cut away a lower 
cable as it entered, which so completely destroyed 
its force, that it fell upon the deck without doing 
any injury. 



40 NAVAL BATTLES. 

Commodore Preble had for some time^ contempla- 
ted sending a lire-ship into the harbor, in order to 
destroy the flotilla, and injure the town. Captain 
Somers volunteered his services. He, with the as- 
sistance of lieutenants Wadsworth and Israel, fittins: 
out the ketch Intrepid for the expedition. One 
hundred barrels of gunpowder and one hundred and 
fifty shells were placed in the hold. Fusees and 
combustibles were so applied as not to endanger a 
retreat. 

On the evening of the 4th of September, captain 
Somers chose two fast-rowing boats, in order to 
bring off the people after the vessel should be set on 
fire. His own boat was manned by four men from 
the Nautilus and six from the Constitution, with 
lieutenant Wadsworth. At eight they parted from 
the squadron, and stood into the harbour. They 
were convoyed by the Argus, Vixen, and Nautilus, 
until arrived within a short distance from the batte- 
ries. On entering the inner harbour, and near the 
point of her destination, the fire ship was boarded 
and carried by two galleys of one hundred men each. 
At this moment she exploded with the most awful 
effect. Every battery was silenced. Not a gun 
was fired during the remainder of the night. There 
is every reason to suppose that captain Somers, on 
perceiving no means of escape left, and that he should 
inevitably be doomed to an ignominious captivity, 
heroically resolved to die, and with his own hands 
set fire to the train, when himself, his companions, 
and the enemy, met a common death. 



NAVAL BArTLtSI. 41 

After this, nothing material occurred until Sep- 
tember 9th, when the long expected squadron, under 
commodore Barron, joined the one before Tripoli. 
Here ended the command of commodore Preble, so 
honourable to himself and his country. All joined 
in praising his distinguished merit. Tlie Pope made 
a publick declaration, that, " the United States, 
though in their infancy, had, in this affair, done more 
to humble the antichristiaii barbarians oh that coast, 
than all the European States had done for a long 
series of time." Sir Alexander Ball, a distinguished 
commander in the British navy, addressed commo- 
dore Preble as follows : — " I beg to repeat my con- 
gratulations on the services you have rendered your 
country, and the hair-breadth escapes you have had in 
setting a distinguished example. Your bravery and 
enterprise are w^orthy a great and rising nation. If 
I were to offer my opinion, it should be, that you 
have done well not to purchase a peace with the 
enemy. A few brave ^ men have indeed been sacri- 
ficed ; but they could not have fallen in a better 
cause ; and I even conceive it advisable to risk more 
lives rather than submit to terms which might encour- 
age the Barbary states to add fresh demands and 
insults." 

After the junction of the two squadrons, commo- 
dore Preble obtained , leave to return home. This 
he did with the greater pleasure, as it would give the 
command of a frigate to captain Decatur. On his 
return to the United States, he was received and 
treated every where with that distinguished atten- 



42 NAVAL BATTLES. 

tion, which he had so fully merited. Congress vot- 
ed him their thanks, and requested the President to 
present him with an emblematical medal.* 



RENCOUNTER OF THE PRESIDENT AND LITTLE 

BELT. 

Pursuant to instructions from the navy depart- 
ment, on the 10th of May, 1"11, commodore Rod- 
gers, commanding the frigate President, sailed from 
Annapolis for New York. On the 16th, about noon 
and within six leagues from land, a sail was discover- 
ed to the eastward, standing towards the President. 
The commodore perceived it to be a man of war ; 
and supposed it to be the British frigate Guerriere, 
which frigate, it was also supposed, had, a few days 
before, impressed a boy from on board an American 
brig, near Sandy Hook. Commodore Rodders, 
considering it his duty to know the names and 
character of all foreign vessels hovering on the coast 
resolved to speak to her. He also hoped, that, if 
she proved to be the Guerriere, he might prevail on 
her commander to relinquish the young man. At 
half past three, the commodoi^e perceived his ship to 
be gaining upon the chase, but the wind decreasing, 
he did not come up with her till it was too dark to 
discover her actual force ; nor could he discover to 
* Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 148—163. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 43 

what nation she belonged, as she declined showing 
her colours. At fifteen or twenty minutes past sev- 
en, the chase took in her studding sails, and soon 
after hauled up her courses. She then hauled by the 
wind on the starboard tack ; and at the same time, 
hoisted an ensign or flag at her mizzen peak. It was 
however, too dark to discover what nation it repre 
sented. Her broadside was now for the first time 
presented to view. Though her appearance indicat- 
ed a frigate, darkness prevented her actual force be- 
ing ascertained. 

At twenty minutes past eight, the President being 
a little forward of the weather beam of the chase, 
and distant between seventy and a hundred yards 
from her, the commodore hailed, " What ship is that?" 
To this no answer was given ; but the question was 
repeated from on board the chase. After a short 
pause, the question was repeated by the commodore 
and immediately a shot was fired into the President. 
Just as the commodore was about giving orders for 
a shot to be fired in return, one was actually fired 
from the second division of the President. This was 
returned from the other vessel, by three guns i'n quick 
succession, and, soon after, by the remainder of his 
broadside and musketry. The commodore then gave 
a general order to fire. The fire from the President 
having, in a few minutes, produced a partial silence 
of the guns of the othcF vessel, the commodore gave 
orders to cease firing, judging that she must be a ship of 
very inferiour force, or that some untoward accident 
had happened to her. This order commodore Rodg- 



44< JNAVAL BATTLES. 

ers soon had reason to regret. The fire was renewed 
from the other vessel, and two of its thirty-two pound 
shot cut off one of the fore shrouds and injured the 
fore-mast of the President. He therefore immedi- 
ately ordered a recommencement of the fire. It con- 
tinued for a few minutes, when the commodore, per- 
ceiving his opponent's gaff and colours down, his 
main-top-sail yard upon he cap, and his fire silenc- 
ed, again ordered the tumg to cease, to prevent a fur- 
ther effusion of blood. After a short pause, perceiv- 
ing his adversary was not disposed to renew the ac- 
tion, the commodore again hailed, and was informed 
that she was a British ship ; but, from the wind 
blowing fresh, he was unable to learn her name. 

Commodore Rodgers, having informed the British 
commander of the name of his ship, gave orders to 
wear ; to run under the lee of the British ship ; to 
haul by the wind on the starboard tack ; to heave to 
under top-sails ; and repair the little damage that had 
been sustained in the rigging. 

The President continued lying to all night on dif- 
ferent tacks, with lights displayed, that the British 
vessel might better discern her position, and com- 
mand any assistance that she might require during 
the night. At daylight she was discovered several 
miles to leeward. The commodore gave orders to 
bear up and run down to her under easy sail. After 
hailing her, he sent a boat on board, with lieutenant 
Creighton, to learn the name of the ship and her 
commander, with instructions to ascertain the damage 
she had sustained, and to state how much he regret- 



NAVAL BATTLES. , 45 

ted, on his part, the necessity that led to so unhappy 
a result, and to offer every assistance in his power, 
in repairing the damages. Lieutenant Creighton, 
returned with information that the vessel was his 
Britannick majesty's ship Little Belt, captain Bing- 
ham, of eighteen guns ; and that the captain declin- 
ed accepting any assistance. The Little Belt had 
nine men killed and twenty-two wounded. No one 
was killed on board the President, and only a boy 
wounded. 

Captain Bingham's account differs materially from 
the preceding statement. He denies having fired 
the first gun ; asserts that the action lasted three 
quarters of an hour ; and even intimates that he had 
gained the advantage in the contest. Commodore 
Rodgers's account, from which the one here given 
is taken, was confirmed by all his ofKcers and crew, 
on their solemn oath, before a court of inquiry. The 
court also confirmed all the particulars of his state- 
ment, after a long and minute investigation.* 



THE PRESIDENT AND BELVIDERE. 

A FORMAL declaration of war against Great Bri- 
tain was passed by Congress on the 18th of June, 
1812, which was proclaimed by the President of 
the United States on the following day. On the 
* Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 168, 



46 NAVAL BATTLES. 

21st, Commodore Rodgers, having received official 
information of the event, set sail from New York, 
accompanied by the frigates United States and Con- 
gress, and the brigs Hornet and Argus, in search of 
a British fleet of merchantmen, which had sailed 
from Jamaica the preceding month. The following 
night information was received of the convoy from 
an American brig, which had passed them four days 
before, and the squadron crowded all sail in pursuit. 
The next morning, however, their course was al- 
tered by the appearance of the British frigate Bel- 
videre, to which the commodore immediately gave 
chase. The pursuit continued from six in the morn- 
'ing, till past four in the afternoon, when the Presi 
dent, having got within gun-shot, commenced a fire 
with the bow chase guns at the spars and rigging of 
the Belvidere, in hopes of crippling her so as to ena- 
ble them to get along side. The Belvidere returned 
the fire of the President with her stem guns, and the 
firing was kept up without intermiss-ion for about tei. 
minutes, when one of the President's chase guns 
burst, by which unfortunate accident sixteen men 
were killed and wounded ; among the wounded was 
commodore Rodgers, who had his leg fractured. By 
the bursting of the gun, and the explosion of the 
passing box, from which it was served with powder, 
both the main and forecastle decks were so much 
shattered as to prevent the use of a chase gun on that 
side for some time. Orders were therefore given 
to veer the ship, and a broadside was fired in the 
Uope of disabling the spars of the enemy ; but this 



NAVAL BATTLES. 47 

did not succeed. Considerable damage, however, 
was done to the rigging and jthe stern. The utmost 
exertion was now used on board the President, by 
wetting the sails, &c. to gain ground of her oppo- 
nent ; but without success. A constant firing was 
kept up from both ships, until about seven o'clock ; 
when the Belvidere, having cut away her anchors, 
started a number of water casks, and thrown over- 
board her boats and every thing that could be spar- 
ed, got out of the reach of the President's shot. 
The chase was continued till about midnight, when 
it was given up as hopeless. One of the first shots 
fired by the President killed one man and wounded 
six on board the Belvidere ; and the captain was se- 
verely wounded in the thigh by the breaking of the 
breaching of a carronade. On board the President 
there were three killed and nineteen wounded, the 
greater part by the bursting of the gun as above 
related. 



ESCAPE OF THE CONSTITUTION. 

The frigate Constitution, commanded by captain 
Isaac Hull, had received orders to join the. squadron 
(under commodore Rodgers,) and, for that purpose, 
sailed from Annapolis on the 6th of July. On the 
17th, off Egg Harbour, four ships, apparently men 
of war, were discovered from the mast-head to the 



m 



48 NAVAL BATTLES. 

northward, and in shore of the Constitution ; and, in 
the belief that it was the American squadron, wait- 
ing her arrival, all sail was made in chase of them. 
At four in the afternoon, another ship was seen to 
the northeast, standing for the Constitution, with all 
sail set. At ten in the evening; being then within 
six or eight miles of the strange sail, the private 
signal was made by the Constitution ; which not 
being answered, it was concluded that she, and the 
ships in shore, were enemy's vessels. Captain Hull 
immediately laid his vessel in the same course with 
the others, having determined to lie off till daylight 
to see what they were. 

Next morning, two frigates were seen from the 
Constitution, under her lee, one frigate four or five 
miles, and a line of battle ship, a frigate, a brig and 
a schooner, ten or twelve miles directly astern, all 
in chase, and coming up fast, they having a fine 
breeze, and it being nearly calm where the Constitu- 
tion was. Finding there was but little chance for 
escape, being then within five miles of three heavy 
frigates, the Constitution was cleared for action, and 
two guns were run out at the cabin windows and 
two at the ports 'on the quarterdeck. At eight 
o'clock, four of the ships were nearly within gun- 
, shot, some of them having six or eight boats ahead, 
towing with all their oars and sweeps out. 

In this perilous situation a new expedient was 
adopted, which was the means of saving the vessel. 
Being in only twenty-four fathoms water, boats 
were sent out ahead with anchors, and the ship 



NAVAL BATTLES. 51 

are good enough to give him more credit for having 
escaped it than he ought to claim, takes this oppor- 
tunity of requesting them to transfer their good 
vi^ishes to lieutenant Morris and the other brave 
officers, and the crew under his command, for their 
very great exertions and prompt attention to his or- 
ders while the enemy were in chase. Captain Hull 
has great pleasure in saying, that notwithstanding 
the length of the chase, and the officers and crew be- 
ing deprived of sleep, and allowed but little refresh-- 
ment during the time, not a murmur was heard to 
escape them." 



CAPTURE OF THE GUERRIERE. 

On the second day of August, the Constitution 
again set sail, pursuing an easterly course. * She 
passed near the coast as far down as the Bay of Fun- 
dy ; then ran off Halifax and Cape Sable ; and not 
seeing any vessels for some days, captain Hull steer- 
ed toward Newfoundland, passed the Isle of Sables, 
and took a station off the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to 
intercept the Canada trade. While cruising here, he 
captured two merchant vessels. On the 15th, he 
chased a convoy of five sail, captured one of them, 
and prevented the prize ship of an American priva- 
teer from being retaken. Having received informa- 
tion that the British squadron were off the Grand 



52 NAVAL BATTLES. 

Bank, and not far distant, he changed his cruising 
ground, and stood to the southward. 

On the memorable 19th of August, at two p. m. 
the Constitution being in latitude, forty-one degrees 
and forty-two minutes n6rth, and fifty-five degrees 
and thirty-three minutes west longitude, a vessel 
was discovered to the southward. The Constitution 
instantly made all sail in chase, and soon gained on 
her. At three p. m. it could plainly be perceived 
she was a ship, on the starboard tack, under easy 
sail, close hauled to the wind. At half past three, 
she was ascertained to be a frigate. The Constitu- 
tion continued the chase. At about three miles dis- 
tance," captain Hull ordered the light sails to be ta- 
ken in, the courses to be hauled up, and the ship to 
be cleared for action. The chase now backed her 
main-top-sail, and waited for the Constitution to 
come down. As "soon as the Constitution was ready 
for action, she bore down, intending to bring imme- 
diately to close action the British frigate, which had 
about this time hoisted three English ensigns in token 
of defiance. As soon as the Constitution came with- 
in gun-shot, the British frigate fired her broadside ; 
then filled away, wore, and gave a broadside on the 
other tack. They however, produced no effect, her 
shot fell short. The British frigate manoeuvred and 
wore several times for about three quarters of an 
hour, in order to obtain a raking position. But not 
succeeding in this, she bore up under her top-sails 
and jib with the wind on the quarter. Captain Hull 
immediately made sail to bring his ship up with her. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



53 




54 NAVAL BATTLES. 

At five minutes before six, p. m. the Constitution 
being along "side, within pistol-shot, he ordered a 
brisk firing to be commenced from all her guns, which 
were double-shotted with round and grape shot ; and 
so well directed and so warmly kept up was the Amer- 
ican fire, that, in fifteen minutes, the mizzen-mast of 
the British frigate went by the board, and her main- 
yard in her slings. Her hull was much injured ; and 
her rigging and sails torn to pieces. The fire was 
kept up, in the same spirited manner, for fifteen min- 
utes longer, by the Constitution. She had now taken 
a position for raking, on the bows of the British fri- 
gate ; when the latter could only bring her bow guns 
to bear on the Constitution. The* grape-shot and 
small arms of the Constitution completely swept the 
decks of the British frigate. Thirty minutes after 
the commencement of the action by the Constitution, 
the mainmast and foremast of the British frio;ate 
went by the board, taking with them every spar ex- 
cept tliie bowsprit. She then struck her colours, 
Avhich had been fastened to the stump of the mizzen- 
mast. The Constitution then set fore and main-sails, 
and hauled to the eastward to repair damages. All 
her braces, a great part of her standing and running rig- 
ging, and some of her spars, were shot away. At 
seven, p. m. she stood under' the lee of the prize, 
and sent a boat on board, which returned at eight 
with captain Dacres, commander of the frigate. She 
was the Guerriere, rating thirty-eight, and mounting 
forty-nine guns. The hull of the Guerriere was so 
much shattered, that a few more broadsides would 



NAVAL BATTLES. 55 

have sunk her. She had fifteen men killed, sixty- 
one wounded, and twenty-four missing, who, it is 
presumed, were swept overboard by the falling masts. 
The Constitution had only seven killed, and seven 
wounded. 

The boats were, immediately employed in bring- 
ing the wounded and prisoners on board the Constitu- 
tion. About two, A. M. a sail was discovered off the 
larboard beam standing to the south. The ship was 
instantly cleared for action. At three, the vessel 
stood away. At day-break, information was received 
from the lieutenant on board the prize, that the ship 
was in a sinking condition, and had four feet water 
in the hold. As soon as all her creAV were removed 
from on board of her, she was set on fire, and blew 
up a quarter past three. 

Captain Hull, in his letter to the secretary of the 

navy, says : — " that, from the smallest boy in the 

ship, to the oldest seaman, not a look of fear was 

seen. They all went into action giving three cheers, 

•and requesting to be laid along^side the enemy."* 

In the heat of the engagement, one of the crew 
of the Constitution, perceiving the flag at the fore- 
top-mast head had been shot away, went up with it, 
and lashed it so securely, as to render it impossible to 
shoot it away, unless the mast went with it. 

The generosity of captain Hull and his crew was 

equal to their bravery. Captain Dacres, in his ofificial 

letter, confesses their conduct to have been '* that of 

a brave enemy ; the greatest care being taken to pre- 

* Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 175—176, 



56 



KAVAL BATTLES. 




NAVAL BATTLES. 57 

vent the men losing the' slightest article, and the 
greatest attention being paid to the wounded." 

The Constitution arrived in Boston harbour the 
30th day of August.. When captain Hull landed, 
he was received- with every demonstration of aiOfec- 
tion and respect. The Washington Artillery, posted 
on_^the wharf, welcomed him with a federal salute, 
which was returned from the Constitution. An im- 
mense assemblage of citizens made the air ring with 
loud and unanimous huzzas, which were repeated 
on his passage up State Street to the Exchange Cof- 
fee House. The street was beautifully decorated 
with American flags. 

A splendid entertainment was given to captain 
Hull and his officers by the citizens of Boston, at 
which commodore Rodgers and the officers of his 
squadron were invited. The citizens of Philadel- 
phia subscribed for two elegant pieces of plate — one 
to be presented to captain Hull, and the other to 
Mr. Charles Morris, his first lieutenant. The legis- 
lature of New York, the council of the cities of Al- 
bany and Savannah, the Congress of the United 
States, the House of Representatives of Massachusetts , 
and other public bodies, voted their thanks to captain 
Hull, his officers and crew. The order of Cincinna 
ti admitted him as an honourary member. Congress 
voted fifty thousand dollars as an indemnification to 
the captain, officers, and crew, for the loss sustained 
by the destruction of the Guerriere. 



58 NAVAL BATTLES. 



CAPT. PORTER— FIRST CRUISE OF THE ESSEX. 

The Essex, commanded by captain David Porter, 
sailed from New York the third of July, 1812, and 
shortly after fell in with a fleet of transports, under 
convoy of a jfrigate and two bomb-ketches, from Ja- 
maica for Halifax, with troops. The Essex kept at 
a distance until night, when she cut off a brig with 
one hundred and fifty soldiers on board, which was 
ransomed for a bill of exchange on London for four- 
teen thousand dollars. The men were disarmed, 
and an exchange receipt taken for them, and they 
severally took an oath not to serve until exchanged. 

The following day captain Porter captured the 
brig Lamprey from Jamaica, by which he received 
intelligence that the Thetis frigate, with specie and 
a large convoy was about sailing for England. Every 
exertion was made to get off St. Augustine in time 
to fall in with them, but without effect, as fresh gales 
prevailed from the southwest, which increased till the 
19th of July, when, by the violence of the tempest, 
they were compelled to run before the wind. 

On the thirteenth of August, the British sloop of 
war Alert, of twenty guns, ran down on the weath- 
er quarter of the Essex. Her crew gave three cheers, 
and immediately commenced an engagement. But 
so spirited and well directed a fire was kept up from 
the Essex, that in eight minutes after the commence- 
ment of the action, she forced the Alert to strike 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



;.Q 




60 NAVAL BATTLES. 

her colours. She had seven feet water in her hold. 
She was much cut to pieces, and had three men 
wounded. The Essex did not receive the slightest 
injury. 

Captain Porter, being much embarrassed by the 
number of his prisoners, amounting to about five 
hundred, concluded an arrangement with the captain 
of the Alert for sending them to a British port, in 
the Alert, as a cartel. 

The Alert, on her return to the United States, 
was fitted out as a government vessel. 

On the 30th of August, the Essex being in lati- 
tude 36 N. longitude 62 w. a British frigate was dis- 
covered standing towards her, under a press of sail. 
Captain Porter stood for her under easy sail, with 
his ship prepared for action ; and apprehensive that 
she might not find the Essex during the night, he 
hoisted a light. At nine t!ie British vessel made a 
signal. It consisted of two flashes and a blue light. 
She was then apparently about four miles distant. 
Captain Porter stood for the point where she was 
seen, until midnight, when perceiving nothing of her 
he concluded it would be best to heave-to for her, 
until morning, concluding she had done the same. 
But to his great surprise, and the mortification of 
his officers and crew, she was no longer in sight. 
Captain Porterf believed it to be not unlikely, that 
this vessel, was the Acasta, of fifty guns, sent out, 
accompanied by the Ring Dove, of twenty-two, to 
cruise for the Essex. **' 



•NAVAL BATTLES. 61 

On the 4th of September, the Essex being off the 
tail of St. George's Bank, two ships of war were 
discovered to the southward, and a brig to the north- 
ward. The brig was in chase of an American mer- 
chant ship. . Captain Porter immediately chased the 
brig, which attempted to pass, and join the rest of 
the squadron. This he prevented, and compelled 
her to stand to the northward. He continued in 
chase of her, until abreast of the American ship, 
when the wind becoming light, she escaped by means 
oY her sweeps. On shewing American colours, sev- 
eral signal guns were fired by the ships to the 
southward. All sail was made by them in chase. 
At four p. M. they had gained the wake of the Es- 
sex, and were coming up with her very fast. Cal- 
culating on making his escape by some manoeuvre 
during the night, he fired a gun to windward. The 
two ships still continued to gain on the Essex. The 
largest was considerably to windward of the other, 
and about five miles astern of the Essex. Captain 
Porter determined to heave about as soon as it grew 
dark, and, in case he should not be able to pass her, 
he determined to fire a broadside into her, and lay 
her on board. The crew, as soon as the plan was 
proposed to them, gave three cheers, and were in 
high spirits. Twenty minutes after seven, the Essex 
hove about, and stood s. e. by s. untiHhii^ty minutes 
aftfer eight, when she bore away s. w. without see- 
ing any thing more of them. This was the more 
surprising, as a pistol was fired on board the Essex 
when nearest to them. 



62 NAVAL BATTLES. 

The Essex arrived safe in the Delaware a few 
days after. 



WASP AND FROLIC. 

Of all the victories achieved by single vessels, 
perhaps the most brilliant, and which will probably 
long stand on record without a parallel, is that of 
the Wasp, commanded by captain Jacob Jones, over 
the sloop of war Frolic. 

On the 13th of October, captain Jones left the 
Delaware bay in the Wasp, on a cruise. On the 
16th, she experienced a heavy gale, in which she lost 
her jib-boom and two men. On the evening of the 
next day, about eleven o'clock, being in the track 
of vessels passing from Bermuda to Halifax, she 
found herself near five strange sail, steering east- 
ward. Some of them appearing to be ships of 
war, it was thought better to get farther from them. 
The Wasp, therefore, hauled her wind, and having 
reached a few miles to windward, so as to escape or 
fight, as occasion might require, followed the strange 
sail through the night. At daybreak, on Sunday 
morning, captain Jones found that they were six 
large merchant ships under convoy of a sloop of 
war, from Honduras to England. Four of the 
ships were large and well manned, mounting from 
sixteeh to eighteen guns, and having from forty to 



NAVAL BATTLES. . 63 

fifty men each. Captain Jones, however, deter- 
mined to attack them. The convoy made their 
escape mider a press of sail. The sloop of war 
alone remained, which proved to be the Frolic, 
captain Whinyates, mounting twenty-two guns, and 
having a crew of about one hundred and twenty mt3n. 
There was a heavy swell in the sea, and the weather 
was boisterous. The top-gallant yards of the Wasp 
were taken down, her top-sails were close reefed, 
and she was prepared for action. 

About eleven o'clock the Frolic showed Spanish 
colours. The Wasp immediately displayed the 
American ensign and pendant ; and at thirty-two 
minutes past eleven, came down to w indward on the 
larboard side of the Frolic. When within about 
sixty yards she hailed. The Frolic then hauled down 
her Spanish colours ; hoisted the British ensign ; and 
opened a fire of cannon and musketry. This was 
instantly returned by the Wasp ; and, nearing the 
enemy, the action became close and spirited. 
About four or five minutes after the commence- 
ment of the action, the main-top-mast of the 
Wasp was shot away, and, having fallen, with the 
main-top-sail yard, across the larboard, fore, and fore- 
top-sail braces, rendered her heaS yards unmanage- 
able ^during the remainder of the engagement. In 
two or three minutes more, her gaff and mizzen-top- 
gallant-sail were shot away. She however kept up 
a close and constant fire. The sea was so rough, 
that the muzzles of the W^asp's guns were frequent- 
ly under water. The Americans fired as the side of 



64 . NAVAL BATTLES. 

their ship was going down. Their shot of course, 
either struck the Frolic's deck, or below it. The 
English fired as their vessel rose. Their balls conse- 
quently only struck the rigging, or were ineffectual. 
The Wasp, having now shot ahead of the Frolic, 
poured a broadside into her, which completely raked 
her. She then took a position on the Frolic's lar- 
board bow. A most spirited fire was now kept up 
from the Wasp, which produced great effect. The 
fire of the Frolic had slackened so much, that cap- 
tain Jones gave up his intention of boarding her, 
lest both vessels might be endangered by the rough- 
ness of the sea. But, in the course of a few min- 
utes more, not a brace of the Wasp was left. All 
had been shot away. Her rigging was so much torn 
to pieces, that captain Jones, was afraid, that her 
masts, being unsupported, would go by the board ; 
and the * Frolic thereby be enabled to escape. He 
therefore resolved to board, and at once decide the 
contest. With this intention, he wore ship, and ran 
down upon the enemy. The vessels struck each 
other. The Wasp's side rubbed along the Frolic's 
bow. The jib-boom of the latter entered between 
the main and mizzen rigging of the Wasp, directly 
over the heads of captain Jones and his first lieuten- 
ant, Biddle, who were then standing together near 
the capstan. The Frolic now lay in so good a po- 
sition for being raked, that it was resolved not to 
board until another broadside had been poured into 
her. So near were the two vessels, that while the 
men were loading the guns, the rammers of the 



NAVAL BATTLES, 




NAVAL BATTLES. S5 

Wasp were pushed against the Frolic's sides ; and 
two of her guns went through the bow ports of the 
Frolic, and swept the whole length of her deck. 
About this time, Jack Lang, a brave and intrepid 
seaman, of the Wasp, and who had once been im- 
pressed on board a man of war, jumped on a gun 
with his cutlass, and was springing on board the 
Frolic ; when Captain Jones, desiring to fire again 
before boarding, called him. down. But, probably 
urged on by Jiis impetuosity, he did not hear the 
command of his captain, and was immediately on 
the bowsprit of the frolic. Lieutenant Biddle, per- 
ceiving the ardour and enthusiasm of the Wasp's 
crew, mounted on the hammock-cloth, to board. 
The crew immediately followed. But the lieuten- 
ant's feet being entangled in the rigging of the 
Frolic's bowsprit, and midshipman Baker, in his ar- 
dour to board, laying hold of his coat, he fell back 
on the Wasp's deck. He directly sprang up, and, 
as the next swell of the sea brought the Frolic near- 
er, he got on her bowsprit, where Lang and another 
seaman were already. He passed them on the fore- 
castle ; and was much surprised at not seeing a 
single man alive on the Frolic's deck, except the sea- 
man at the wheel, and three officers. The deck was 
slippery with blood, and strewed with dead bodies. 
As he went forward, the captain of the Frolic, and 
two other officers, who were standing on the quarter- 
deck, threw down their swords, and made an inclina- 
tion of their bodies, as a sign of submission. The 
colours of the Frolic were still flying. None of her 



66 NAVAL BATTLES. 

seaman, probably, dared to go into the rigging, tO 
strike them, for fearof the musketry of the Wasp. 
Lieutenant Biddle himself immediately jumped into 
the rigging, and hauled down the British ensign. 
Possession was taken of the Frolic forty-three min- 
utes after the commencement of the action. She 
presented a most shocking spectacle. Her birth-deck 
was crowded with dead, wounded, and dying. Not 
above twenty of -her crew escaped unhurt. Captain 
Jones immediately sent his surgeon's mate on board. 
All the blankets of the Frolic were brought from 
her slop-room for the accommodation of the wound- 
ed. To increase the confusian, both the Frolic's 
masts fell, soon after taking possession of her, and 
covered the dead and every thing on deck. 

In this action, the crews of the vessels were aboiit 
equal. The British vessel mounted four guns more 
than the American. The destruction on board of 
the Frolic could not be exactly determined ; but, 
from the observations of the American officers, and 
the declarations of the English, there could not have 
been less than thirty killed, and about fifty wounded. 
The Wasp had only five men killed, and five wound- 
ed. 

Lieutenant Biddle was placed on board the Frolic. 
A suspicious sail being perceived to windward. Cap- 
tain Jones ordered him to proceed to Charleston, 
or any other southern port in the United States. 
The Wasp ' intended to continue her cruise. The 
ships theii parted. The suspicious sail bore down 
very fast. It was at first supposed she was one of 



NAVAL BATTLES. 67 

the convoy. The Wasp was immediately cleared 
for action. As she approached, she proved to be a 
seventy-four, the Poictiers, captain Beresford. She 
fired a shot over the Frolic ; and, having passed her, 
overtook the Wasp, the disabled state of whose rig- 
ging prevented her from escaping. After she was 
taken possession of, the Poictiers returned to secure 
the Frolic. Both vessels were carried into Ber- 
muda. 

This action completely demonstrated the superior 
skill and spirit of the American naval officers and 
seamen. The superiority of force certainly was on 
the side of the British. 

On the return of captain Jones to the United 
States, his gallant conduct was not passed unnoticed 
by his grateful countrymen. The Congress of the 
United States voted him and his crew twenty-five 
thousand dollars, in consideration of the loss they 
sustained by the recapture of the Frolic, also their 
thanks. They ordered a gold medal to be presented 
to the captain, and a silver one to each of his officers. 

This gallant exploit deservedly secured to cap- 
tain Jones and his brave crew, the acknowledgments 
of their grateful countrymen. The narrow limits 
of our work, forbid our entering into detail. We 
i^sfhall therefore merely state that pieces of plate, and 
swords were ordered for captain Jones, and thanks 
voted to him and his crew, by the legislature of Penn- 
sylvania—the legislature of the state of Delaware — 
the legislature of New York-^-the house of repre- 



68 NAVAL BATTLES. 

sentatives of Massachusetts — the citizens of Phila- 
delphia, — the common council of New York, &c. 

The order of Cincinnati at New York admitted 
captain Jones into the Society as an honourary mem- 
ber. 

Captain Jones, in consideration of his merit, was 
appointed to command the Macedonian, a thirty-eight 
gun frigate, just captured from the British. 

Lieutenant Biddle was promoted to the rank of 
master commandant.* 



I 



SECOND CRUISE OF COMMODORE RODGERS. 

On the 8th of October, commodore Rodgers sail- 
ed again from Boston, in the frigate President, 
accompanied by the United States, Congress, and 
Argus. On the 13th, the United States and Ar- 
mis parted from the others in a gale of wind. On 
the 15th, the President and Congress captured 
the British packet Swallow, having on board specie 
amounting to nearly two hundred thousand dollars. 
On the 31st they captured a South Sea ship, loaded 
with oil, one of two ships under convoy of the Gala- 
tea frigate, to which they gave chase, but lost her in 
a fog. During the remainder of the cruise, they saw no 
other British Vessel except the frigate Nymph, which 
*Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 183—186. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 69 

escaped in the night. On the 31st of December they 
arrived at Boston, having been as far to the east as 
longitude 22, and to the south as far as latitude 17 
north. From longitude 22, they ran down the trade 
wind to longitude 50, and passed to the north, one 
hundred and fifty miles from Bermuda. In this 
cruise, the space passed over was not less than eight 
thousand miles ; and though the President and Con- 
gress returned richly laden, their commanders could 
not but regret that no opportunity was afforded to 
try the spirit and discipline of their officers and 
crews. The cash taken from the Swallow was car- 
ried from the navy yard to one of the banks, in sev- 
eral waggons, escorted by the crews of the frigates 
and a detachment of marines, with drums beating and 
colours flying, amidst the huzzas of a large con- 
course of spectators. The specie and gold dust de- 
posited in the bank were said to be worth nearly three 
hundred thousand dollars. 



THE ARGUS. 



After parting from the squadron, as above noted, 
the Argus, commanded by captain Sinclair, proceed- 
ed to the coast of Brazil, sailed along the north 
coast, from cape St. Roque to Surinam, thence to 
the windward of the West Indies, and in every di- 



70 NAVAL BATTLES. 

rection between the Bermudas, Halifax, and the con- 
tinent. After a cruise of ninety-six days, she arriv- 
ed at New York, having made five prizes, valued at 
two hundred thousand dollars. She fell in with a 
British squadron of six sail, two of which were of 
the line, and one of them a remarkably fast sailer. 
The chase was continued for three days and nights, 
and under various circumstances, but, by unremitted 
exertions, the Argus eluded the pursuit. Pressed on 
all sides by the number of the enemy, and often baffled 
by the unsettled state of the weather, she w as at one 
time within gunshot of a seventy-four, and at an- 
other nearly surrounded. While in this perilous sit- 
uation, she actually captured and manned one of her 
prizes. 



UNITED STATES AND MACEDONIAN. 

On the 25th of October, after being separated 
from the squadron, the United States, commanded 
by commodore Decatur, fell in with and captured, 
off the Western Isles, after an action of an hour and a 
half, the British frigate Macedonian, captain Garden, 
mounting forty-nine guns, and carrying three hundred 
and six men. The Macedonian being to windward, 
had the advantage of choosing her distance, which 
was so great, that for the first half hour, the United 



NAVAL BATTLES. 71 

States could not use her carronades.jjv, and at no time 
were they within musket or grape shot. To this 
circumstance, and a heavy swell of the sea, was as- 
cribed the extreme length of the action. In this 
contest the superiority of the American gunnery was 
strikingly obvious. The Macedonian had one hun- 
dred and six men killed and wounded. She was total- 
ly dismasted, and had nearly one hundred shot holes in 
her hull. On board the United States there were 
only five killed and seven wounded ; and so little in- 
jury was done to the ship, that, in five minutes after 
the action, she was fully prepared for another. 
Shortly after the action commenced, such a torrent of 
fire proceeded from the United States, that the crew 
of the Macedonian- supposed she was actually on fire, 
and gave three cheers. 

The Macedonian was a frigate of the largest class, 
only two years old, four months out of dock, and re- 
puted one of the fastest sailers in the British service. 

All the private property of the officers and crew 
of the Macedonian was given up to them ; that 
claimed by captain Garden, amounted to eight hun- 
dred dollars, and was paid for by the commodore. 

An instance of the generosity, which is so predom- 
inant in the breasts of American tars, must not be 
omitted. John Archibald, one of the crew of the 
United States, received a mortal wound, of w^hich he 
soon after died. He left three children to the mer- 
cy of the world and a profligate mother, who had 
deeerted them. When the father of Archibald went 
on board the frigate, to claim the wages and proper- 



72 



NAVAL BATTLES. 




NAVAL BATTLES. 73 

• 

iy of his son, an inquiry was made into the circum- 
stances of his family. A plan was immediately 
agreed upon by the seamen for the relief of the or- 
phans. Two dollars was subscribed by each of them ; 
a sum of eight hundred dollars was made up, and 
placed in the hands of suitable trustees, for the main- 
tenance and education of his children. 

Commodore Decatur arrived at New London 
with. his prize on the 4th of December. He receiv- 
ed from all quarters the congratulations of his coun- 
trymen. A gold medal was presented to him bj 
Congress, in testimony of their high sense of his gal- 
lantry, good conduct and services. The legislature 
of Pensylvania voted him their thanks, and an ele- 
gant sword ; and various other testimonials of pub- 
lic regard were bestowed upon him and his crew. 

The news of this brilliant victory was received at 
Washington on the evening of the 8th of Decem- 
ber. It happened, that on that evening, a ball was 
given in compliment to the officers and navy general- 
ly, and particularly to captain Stewart, in acknowl- 
edgment of his politeness to the citizens of Wash- 
mgton on a recent occasion. A large and respecta- 
ble company was assembled, and the scene was 
graced by the presence of all the beauty and fashion 
of the city. The room in which the company were 
assembled had been decorated with the trophies of 
naval victory. The colours of the Guerriere and Alert, 
displayed on the walls, roused the feeling of patriot- 
ism, and revived in the mind the recollection of thb 

bravery which had won them. At this time lieuten 
)0 



74 NAVAL BATTLES. 

• 

ant Hamilton arrived with the colours of the Mace- 
donian, and despatches from commodore Decatur 
He was received with loud acclamations, and escort 
ed to the festive hall ; and the colours of the Mao 
edonian were borne into the room by captains Hull 
and Stewart, and deposited with those of the Guer- 
riere and Alert. 



CONSTITUTION AND JAVA. 

On the arrival of the Constitution in Boston, after 
the capture of the Guerriere, captain Hull received 
permission to remain on shore to attend to his private 
affairs, and commodore Bainbridge was appointed to 
command in his room. After undergoing the neces- 
sary repairs, she sailed on a cruise along the coast of 
South America, accompanied by the Hornet sloop of 
war, commanded by captain Lawrence. In running 
down the coast of the Brazils, they found the Bonne 
Citoyenne, a British ship of war, loaded with specie 
lying in the port of St. Salvador. Commodore 
Bainbridge here separated from captain Lawrence, 
leaving him to blockade the Bonne Citoyenne. 

On the twenty-ninth of December, the Constitu- 
tion, being in 13 degrees south latitude, and 38 west 
longitude, about ten leagues from the coast of Brazil, 
at nine a. m. two strange vessels were discovered on 
her weather bow. At ten they were discovered to 



♦ *' 

be ships. One of them stood in for the land ; the otlici 
stood oif shore towards the Constitution. At ten, 
commodore Bainbridge tacked ship to the northward 
and westward, and stood for the sail approaching 
him. At eleven a. m. he tacked to the southward 
and eastward, hauled up the mainsail, and took m 
the royals. At thirty minutes past eleven, made a 
private signal for the day, which was not answered ; 
and then set mainsail and royals, to draw the strange " 
vessel off from the neutral coast, and separate her 
from her company. 

At twelve, the American ensign and pendant were 
hoisted on board the Constitution. At fifteen min- 
utes past twelve, the strange vessel hoisted an Eng- 
lish ensign, and displayed a signal at her mainmast. 

At a quarter past one, the ship in sight proving to 
be an English frigate, and being sufficiently distant 
from land, commodore Bainbridge ordered the main- 
sails and royals to be taken in, to tack ship and stand 
for the enemy ; who soon bore down with an intention 
of raking the Constitution, which she avoid-ed by 
wearing. At two o'clock, p. m. the British ship was 
within half a mile of the Constitution, and to wind- 
ward. She now hauled down her colours, except ar 
union jack at the mizzen-mast head. This induced 
commodore Bainbridge to order a gun to be fired 
ahead of her, to make her show her colours. It was 
succeeded by the whole of the Constitution's broad- 
side. On this, the enemy immediately hoisted co- 
lours, and returned the fire. A general action now 
commenced with round and grape shot. The British 



76 NAVAL BATTLES. 

frigate kept at a much greater distance than the com- 
modore wished. He, however, could not bring her to 
closer action, without exposing his vessel to be sev- 
eral times raked. Both vessels for some time man- 
oeuvred to obtain a position that would enable them 
to rake, or avoid being raked. In the early part of 
the engagement the wheel of the Constitution was 
shot away. Commodore BainbYidge determined to 
close with the British vessel, notwithstanding, in so 
doing, he should expose his ship to be several times 
raked. He ordered the fore and mainsails to be set, 
and luffed up close to the enemy, in such a manner 
that his jib-boom got foul of the Constitution's 
mizzen rigging. About three o'clock, the head of 
the British vessel's bowsprit and jib-boom, were shot 
away ; and, in the space of an hour, her foremast 
was shot away by the board, her main-top-mast just 
above the cap, her gaff and spanker-boom, and her 
mainmast nearly by the board. 

About four o'clock, the fire of the British vessel 
being completely silenced, and her colours in the 
main rigging being down, she was supposed to have 
struck. The courses of the Constitution were now 
hauled on board, to shoot ahead, in order to repair 
her rigging, which was very much cut. The Brit- 
ish vessel was left a complete wreck. .Her flag 
was soon after discovered to be still flying. The 
Constitution, however, hove to, to repair some of 
her damages. About a quarter of an hour after, 
the mainmast of the British vessel went by the 
board. About three quarters of an hour after four, 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



71 




78 NAVAL BATTLES. 

the Constitution wore, and stood for the British ves- 
sel ; and got close to her athwart her bows, in a 
very effectual position for raking, when she prudent-- 
ly struck her flag. Had she suffered the broadside 
to have raked her, her additional loss would have 
been extremely great ; for she lay quite an unman- 
ageable wreck upon the water. 

After the British frigate struck, the Constitution 
wore and reefed topsails. One of the only two re- 
maning boats out of eight, was then hoisted out, and 
^eutenant Parker, of the Constitution, was sent to 
take possession of the frigate. She proved to be 
his Britannick majesty's frigate Java, rating thiity- 
eight, but carrying forty-nine guns. She was man- 
ned by upwards of four hundred men ; and was 
commanded by captain Lambert, a very distinguish* 
ed naval officer. He was mortally wounded. The 
action continued, from the time the firing commenc- 
ed till the time it ceased, one hour and fifty-five 
minutes. 

The Constitution had nine men killed, and twen- 
ty-five wounded. The Java had sixty killed, and 
one hundred and one (certainly) wounded — but by 
a letter written on board the Constitution, by one of 
the officers of the Java, and accidentally found, it is 
evident her loss must have been much greater. He 
states it to have been sixty killed, and one hundred 
and seventy wounded. 

The Java had her own full complement of men, 
and upwards of one hundred supernumeraries, for 
British ships in the East Indies. Her force in nura- 



NAVAL BATTLES. ' 79 

ber of men, at the commencement of the action, was 
probably much greater than the officers of the Con- 
stitution were enabled to ascertain. Her officers 
were extremely cautious in discovering the number 
of her crew. By her quarter bill she had one man 
more, stationed at each gun, than the Constitution. 
The Java was an important ship. She was fitted 
out in the most complete manner, to carry lieuten- 
ant general Hislop and staff to Bombay, of which 
place he had been appointed governour, and several 
naval officers for different vessels in the East Indies. 
She had despatches for St. Helena, the Cape of Good 
Hope, and for every British establishment in the In- 
dian and Chinese seas. She had copper on board for 
a seventy-four, and for two brigs, building at Bom- 
bay ; and probably a number of other valuable arti- 
cles. 

The great distance from the United States, and 
the disabled state of the Java, forbade every idea of 
attempting to bring her to the United States. No 
alternative was therefore left, but to burn her, which 
was done, after the prisoners and their baggage were 
removed to the Constitution. They were all landed 
at St. Salvador, and paroled. The commander of 
the Java, captain Lambert, died soon after he was 
put on shore. The British officers paroled were a 
lieutenant-general, a major, and a captain, of land 
service; in the naval service, a post captain, a mas- 
ter and commander, five lieutenants, three lieuten- 
ants of marines, a -surgeon, two assistant surgeons, a 
purser, fifteen midshipmen, a gunner, a boatswain, a 



80 - NAVAl BATTLES. 

master, a carpenter, and two captain's clerks ; like- 
wise, three hundred and twent} three petty officers, 
seamen, and marines — making all together three 
hundred and fifty-one men; besides nine Portuguese 
seamen, liberated, and eight passengers, private 
characters, who were permrt €d to land with out re- 
straint. 

Lieutenant Aylwin, of the Constitution, was se- 
verely wounded during the action. When the board- 
ers were called to repel boarders, he mounted the 
quarter-deck hammock cloth», and, in the act of fir- 
ing his pistol at the enemy, he received a ball through 
his shoulder. Notwithstanding the severity of his 
wound, he continued at his post until the enemy 
struck. A few days afterwards, when an engage- 
ment was expected with a ship, which afterwards 
proved to be the Hornet, he left his bed, and repair- 
ed to quarters, though labouring under a consider- 
able debility, and under the most excruciating pain. 
He died on the 28th of January, at sea. 

Commodore Bainbridge was received by his coun- 
trymen on his return to the United States, with every 
demonstration of joy and esteem that his gallant ex- 
ploit merited. 

The Congress of the United States voted fifty- 
thousand dollars, and their thanks, to commodore 
Bainbridge, his officers and crew. They likewise 
ordered a gold medal to be presented to commodore 
Bainbridge, and silver ones to each of his officers, in 
token of their esteem. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 8! 

The legislatures of Massachusetts and New York, 
5ic. voted their thanks to commodore Bainbridge, his 
officers, and crew.* 



HORNET AND PEACOCK. 

The Hornet, of eighteen guns, commanded by 
«^.aptain Lawrence, as stated in the preceding article, 
?:ailed in company with the Constituti jn. Such was 
me eagerness of captain Lawrenc to engage the 
Bonne Citoyenne, though a much .avgpr vessel, and 
having a greater force, both in guns and men, that he 
sent, through the American consul at St. Salvador, 
a challenge to her commander, captain Green, pledg- 
ing his honour, that neither the Constitution, nor any 
other American vessels should interfere. This 
pledge was confirmed by commodore Bainbridge, who 
to show his sincerity, left the Hornet before St. Sal- 
vador, and sailed on another cruise. The comman- 
der of the Bonne Citoyenne, however did not see fi 
to accept of the challenge, out suffered himself to b 
blockaded by the Hornet. Captain Lawrence con 
tinued for fourteen days off the harbour of St. Sal 
vador, blockading the Bonne Citoyenne. Two oth- 
er English vessels were likewise in the same port, 
namely, the Fox, of twelve guns, and an armed 
schooner. 

* Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 188—192 
11 



82 



NAVAL BATTLES. 




NAVAL BATTLES. 83 

On the 24th of January, the Montague of seven- 
ty-four guns, hove in sight, and drove the Hornet 
into the harbour — but night coming on, slie wore, 
and stood out to the southward. Captain Lawrence, 
knowing that the seventy-four had come for the 
purpose of relieving the Bonne Citoyenne and pack- 
et Fox from blockade, judged it most prudent to 
change his cruising ground. He therefore hauled by 
the wind to the westward, with the intention of cruis- 
ing off Pernambuco. 

On the LOth of February he captured the English 
brig Resolution, of ten guns, bound to Maranham, 
from Rio Janeiro, laden with coffee, jerked beef, flour, 
fustic, butter, and about twenty-five thousand dollars 
in specie. As this vessel sailed dull, and as captain 
Lawrence could not spare hands to man her, he took 
out the money, and set her on fire. 

He then ran down the coast for Maranham ; and 
cruised there a short time. Thence he ran off Sur- 
inam. After cruising off that coast from the fifteenth 
to the twenty-third of February, without meeting 
with a vessel, he stood for Demarara ; and intended 
should he not be fortunate on that station, to run 
through the West Indies, on his way to the United 
States — but, on the 24th, in the morning, he discov- 
ered a brig to leeward ; to which he immediately 
gave chase. Not having a pilot on board, he was 
obliged to haul off. The fort at the entrance of De- 
marara river bore southwest, distant about two and 
a half leagues. Previous to giving up the chase, 
captain Lawrence discovered a vessel at anchor 



*iiK.-a 



84 



NAVAL BATTLES. 




NAVAL BATTLES. , 85 

without the bar, with English colours flying. She 
appeared to be a brig of war. In beating round Car- 
obana bank, in order to get to her, at half past three 
p. M. he discovered another sail on his weather quar- 
ter, edging down for him. At twenty minutes past 
four, she hoisted English colours. She was now 
discovered to be a large man of war brig. 

Captain Lawrence immediately ordered his men 
to quarters, and had the ship cleared for action. He 
kept close by the wind, in order if possible, to get 
the weathergage of the approaching vessel. At ten 
minutes past five, finding he could weather the ene- 
emy, he hoisted American colours and tacked. 
About a quarter of an hour after this, the ships pass- 
ed each other, and exchanged broadsides within half 
pistol shot. Captain Lawrence observing the enemy 
in the act of wearing, bore up, received his starboard 
broadside, and ran him close on board on the star- 
board quarter. From that position he 'kept up a 
most severe and well directed fire. So great was 
its effect, that, in less than fifteen minutes the Brit- 
ish vessel struck. She was almost cut to pieces, and 
hoisted an ensign, union down, from her fore rigging 
as a signal of distress. Shortly after, her mainmast 
went by the board. 

Lieutenant Shubrick was despatched on board. 
He soon returned with her first lieutenant, who report- 
ed her to be his Britannick Majesty^s brig Peacock, 
commanded by captain William Peake, who fell in 
the action — that a number of her crew were killed 
and wounded — and that she was sinking very fast, 



86 NAVAL BATTLES. 

having then six feet water in her hold. The boats 
of the Hornet were immediately despatched for the 
wounded. Both vessels were brought to anchor. 
Those shot holes in the Peacock that could be got 
at, were then plugged, and her guns thrown over- 
board. Every exertion was used to keep her afloat, 
until the prisoners could be removed, by -pumping 
and bailing, but without effect. She unfortunately 
sunk in five and a half fathoms water, with thirteen 
of her crew, and three of the Hornet's. Lieutenant 
Connor, midshipman Cooper, and the remainder of 
the men employed in removing the prisoners, with 
difficulty saved themselves by jumping into a boat 
that was lying on the booms, as the vessel went 
down. Four men of the Peacock's crew, who were 
on board when she went down, and were so fortunate 
as to gain the foretop, were afterwards taken off by 
the Hornet's boats. Previous to the Peacock's 
sinking, four of her men took to her stern boat, 
which had been much damaged during the action. 
There was little or no prospect of their reaching the 
land. They, however, arrived safe at Demarara. 

Captain Lawrence could not ascertain from the 
officers of the Peacock the exact number of killed. 
Captain Peake and four men were found dead on 
board. The master, one midshipman, carpenter, 
captain's clerk, and twenty-nine seamen of the Pea- 
cock, were wounded ; most of them very severely — 
three died after being removed — nine were drowned. 

The Hornet had only one man killed, and two 
sl'ghtly wounded. Two men were also severely 



NAVAL BATTLES. 87 

burnt bj the explosion of a cartridge, one of whom 
died a few days after. The rigging and sails of the 
Hornet were much cut. A shot passed through the 
foremast ; the bowsprit was slightly injured ; but her 
hull received very little injury. 

At the time captain Lawrence brought the Pea- 
cock to action, the Espiegle, the brig mentioned as 
being at anchor, lay within six miles of the Hornet, 
between her and the shore, and could jDlainly see 
the whole of the action. She mounted eighteen 
guns. Supposing that she would beat out to the as- 
sistance of her consort, great exertions were used by 
the officers and crev/ of the Hornet, to repair her 
damages. By nine o'clock her boats were stowed ; 
a new set of sails bent ; and the ship completely 
ready for action. 

At two o'clock, A. M. the Hornet got under way 
and stood by the wind to the northward and west- 
ward, under easy sail. On mustering next morning, 
two hundred and seventy souls were found to be on 
board the Hornet. As the crew of the latter had 
been for some time on short allowance, captain Law- 
rence resolved to make the best of his way to the 
United States. 

The Peacock was deservedly styled one of the 
finest vessels of her class in the British navy. She 
was about the tonnage of the Hornet. Her beam 
was greater by five inches ; but her extreme length 
not so great by four feet. She mounted sixteen four 
and-twenty pound carronades, two long nines, a 
twelve pound carronade on her top gallant fore-castle 



88 NAVAL BATTLES. 

as a shifting gun, and a four or six pounder, and two 
swivels aft. By her quarter bill, her crew consisted 
of one hundred and thirty-four men, four of whom 
were absent in a prize, besides four men and one boy, 
who were not on her quarter bill. 

Of the Hornet's crev/, the sailing master and 
seven men were absent in a prize ; and lieutenant 
Stewart and six men on the sick list. 

The conduct of the Hornet's crew towards the 
British seamen, who, by the sinking of their vessel, 
had lost every thing except what they had on their 
backs, manifested much humanity and generosity. 
They raised among themselves a sufficiency to sup- 
pi}^ these distressed seamen, with two shirts, a blue 
jacket and trowsers each. The surviving officers of 
the Peacock returned a public acknowledgment to 
the captain and officers of the Hornet, for the hu- 
manity and kindness wherewith they treated them. 

Captain Lawrence on his return to the United 
States was received with great distinction and ap- 
plause. The same tokens of approbation and esteem 
were conferred on him by public bodies, with which 
other gallant and successful commanders had been 
honoured.* 



CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. 

The Chesapeake frigate, commanded by captain 
Evans, sailed from Boston about the middle of No- 
* Clark's Naval History,, vol. i. p. 202—205. 



NAVAC BATTLES. 89 

vember, 1812; and after a cruise of one hundred 
and fifteen days, returned to Boston. During the 
cruise several captures of some importance were 
made. 

The Chesapeake continued in Boston harbour 
until the first of June, the day of her unfortunate 
rencounter with the Shannon. Captain Lawrence, 
of the Hornet, had a short time previous been ap- 
pointed to command the Chesapeake, and hardly 
had he arrived at Boston, when the Shannon, com- 
manded by captain Broke, appeared off the harbour 
with the avowed purpose of seeking a combat with 
her. 

" Stung with the repeated disasters of the British 
frigates, this officer resolved to make an effort to 
retrieve them ; and when he deemed his ship per- 
fectly prepared for that purpose, sent a formal chal- 
lenge to captain Lawrence. 

" ' As the Chesapeake,' his letter began, ' appears 
now ready for sea, I request you will do me the fa- 
vour to meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to 
try the fortune of our respective flags. To an offi- 
cer of your character, it requires some apology for 
proceeding to further particulars. Be assured, sir 
that it is not from any doubt I entertain of your wishing 
to close with my proposal but merely to provide an 
answer to any objection that might be made, and 
very reasonably, upon the chance of our receiving 
unfair support.' After observing that commodore 
Rodgers had not accepted several vejbal challenges 

which he had given, captain Broke then proceeds to 
12 



90 NAVAL BATTLES. 

state very minutely the force of the Shannon, ana 
offers to send all British ships out of reach, so that 
they might have a fair combat, at any place within a 
certain range along the coast of New England which 
he specified ; if more agreeable, he offers to sail to- 
gether, and to warn the Chesapeake, by means of pri- 
vate signals, of the approach of British ships of war, till 
they reach some solitary spot — or to sail with a flag of 
truce to any place out of the reach of British aid, so 
that the flag should be hauled down when it was 
deemed fair to begin hostilities. ' I entreat you, sir,' 
he concludes, ' not -to imagine that I am urged by 
mere personal vanity to the wish of meeting the 
Chesapeake, or that I depend only upon your per- 
sonal ambition for your acceding to this invitation. 
We have both nobler moti^ is. You will feel it as a 
iompliment, if 1 say that the result of our meeting 
may be "the most grateful service I can render to my 
country ; and I doubt not that you, equally confident 
of success, will feel convinced that it is only by re- 
peated triumphs in even combats, that your little 
navy can now hope to console your country for the 
loss of that trade it can no longer protect.' 

" The style of this letter, with the exception of the 
puerile bravado about commodore Rodgers, is frank 
fcnd manly ; and if the force of the Shannon were 
correctly stated, would be such a challenge as might 
well be sent from a brave seaman to a gallant adver- 
sary. We, however, are but too well satisfied, that 
captain' Broke studiously underrated the number of 
(lis gu IS and crew ; Hi that, after his challenge, he 



NAVAL BATTLES. 91 

must have received additions to both. That the 
Shannon had more guns than the number stated by 
her commander, we learn from the testimony of the 
surviving officers of the Chesapeake ; who also assert, 
that she had three hundred and seventy-six men ; 
that she had an officer and sixteen men from the 
Belle Poule ; and that the hats of some of her sea- 
men were marked ' Tenedos.' Such as it was, how- 
ever, this letter, most unfortunately, never reached 
captain Lawrence. If he had received it ; if he had 
been thus warned to prepare his ship ; if he had had 
an opportunity of selecting his officers, and disciplin- 
ing his crew ; if, in short, he had been able to place 
the Chesapeake on anything like equal terms with the 
Shannon, the combat might have been more bloody — 
there might have been such an engagement as has not 
yet been seen between single ships on the ocean; 
though we cannot suffer ourselves to doubt the result of 
it. But he knew nothing of this challenge — he saw 
only the Shannon riding before him in defiance ; he re- 
membered the spirit with which he himself over- 
awed a superior, and he could not brook for a moment 
that an enemy, which seemed to be his equal, should 
insult his flag'. Although, therefore, the Chesapeake 
was comparatively an inferiour ship — although his 
first lieutenant was sick on shore — although three of 
his lieutenants had recently left her ; and, of the 
four who remained, two were only midshipmen, ac- 
ting as lieutenants — although part of his crew were 
new hands, and all of them had lost somfe of their 
discipline by staying in port — yet, as he would have 



92 NAVAL BATTLES. 

gone to sea in that situation had no enemy appeared, 
he felt himself bound not to delay sailing on that ac- 
count, and throwing himself, therefore, on his cour- 
age and his fortune, he determined at once to attack 
the enemy. It was on the morning of the 1st of 
June, 1813, that the Chesapeake sailed out of the ht:*- 
bour of Boston, to meet the Shannon. As soon as slie 
got under way, captain Lawrence called the crew to- 
gether, and having hoisted the white flag, with the 
motto of ' free trade and sailor's rights,' made a 
short address. His speech, however, was received 
with no enthusiasm — oil the contrary, signs of dissat- 
isfaction were evident ; particularly from a boat- 
swain's mate, a Portuguese, who seemed to be at 
the head of the malecontents ; and complaints were 
muttered, that they had not yet received their prize 
money. Such expressions, at the eve of an action, 
were but ill-bodings of the result of it; but captain 
Lawrence, ignorant as he was of the characters of 
his sailors, and unwilling at such a moment to damp 
their spirits by harshness, preserved his accustomed 
calmness, and had prize-checks, at once, given by 
the purser to those who had not received them. 
Whilst this scene was passing, the Shannon, observing 
the Chesapeake coming out, bore away. The Chesa- 
peake followed her till four o'clock in the afternoon, 
when she hauled up and fired a gun, on which the 
Shannon hove to. They manoeuvred for some time, 
till, at about a quarter before six, they approached 
within pistol shot and exchanged broadsides. 



a 



NAVAL BATTLES. 9d 

" These broadsides were both bloody ; but th* 
fire of the Shannon was most fortunate in the de- 
struction of officers. The fourth lid'utenant, Mr. 
Ballard, was mortallj wounded — the sailing master 
was killed, and captain Lawrence received a musket 
ball in his leg, which caused great pain, and profuse 
bleeding, but he leaned on the companion way, and 
continued to order and to animate his crew. A se- 
cond, and a third broadside was exchanged, with 
evident advantage on the part of the Chesapeake ; 
but, unfortunately, among those now wounded on 
board of her was the first lieutenant, Mr. Ludlow, 
who was carried below — three men were successive- 
ly shot from the helm, in about twelve minutes from 
the commencement of the action ; and as the hands 
were shifting, a shot disabled her foresail, so that she 
would no longer n- her helm, and her anchor 

caught in one of the after ports of the Shannon, 
which enabled the latter to rake her upper deck. 
As soon as captain Lawrence perceived that she was 
falling to leeward, and that by the Shannon's filling 
she would fall on board, he called his boarders, and was 
giving orders about the foresail, when he received a 
musket ball in his body. The bugleman, who should 
have called the boarders, did not do his duty ; and, 
at this moment, commodore Broke, whose ship had 
sufr"^ j»! so much that he was preparing to repel board- 
ing ; perceiving, from this accident, how the deck of 
the ohesapeake was swept, jumped on board with 
about twenty men. They would have been instant- 
ly repelled ; but the captain, the first lieutenant, the 



94 ::avat. battles. 

sailing-master, the boatswain, the lieutenant of ma- 
rines, the only acting lieutenant on the spar-deck, 
were all killed or disabled. At the call of the board- 
ers, lieutenant Cox ran on deck, but just in time to 
eceive his falling commander, and bear him below. 
Lieutenant Budd, the second lieutenant, led up the 
boarders, but only fifteen or twenty would follow hina, 
and with these he defended the ship till he was 
wounded and disabled. Lieutenant Ludlow, wound- 
ed as he was, hurried upon deck, where he soon 'e ■ 
ceived a mortal cut from a sabre. The marines who 
were engaged fought with desperate courage ; but 
they were few in number ; too many of them having 
followed the Portuguese boatswain's mate, who ex- 
claimed, it is said, as he skulked below, ' so much 
for not paying men their prize-money ' Meanwhile 
the Shannon threw on board sixty additional men, who 
soon succeeded in overpowering the seamen of the 
Chesapeake, who had now no officer to lead or rally 
them, and took possession of the ship ; which was 
not, however, surrendered by any signal of submis- 
sion, but became the enemy's only because they were 
able to overwhelm all who were in a condition to 
resist. 

" As captain Lawrence was carried below, he per- 
ceived the melancholy condition of the Chesapeake, 
but cried out, ' Don't surrender the ship.' He was 
taken down into the ward-room, and as he lay in ex- 
cruciating pain, ^perceiving that the noise above had 
ceased, he ordered the surgeon to go on deck, and 
tell the officers to fight on to the last, and never 



INAVAL BATTLES. 95 

Strike their colours. 'They shall wave,' said he, 
while I live.' But it was too late to resist or to 
strug;gle longer ; the enemy had already possession 
of the ship. As captain Lawrence's wounds would 
not allow of his removal, he continued in the ward- 
room, surrounded by his wounded officers, and, after 

ll^ lingering in great pain for four days, during which 
his sufferings were too acute to permit him to speak, 
or, perhaps, to think of the sad events he had just 
witnessed, or do more than ask for what his situation 
required, he died on the 5th of June. His body was 
wrapped in the. colours of the Chesapeake, and laid 
on the quarter deck, until they arrived at Halifax, 
where he was buried with the highest military and 
naval honours ; the British officers forgetting in their 
admiration of his character, that he had been but 
lately their enemy. His pall was supported by the 
oldest captains in the navy then at Halifax, and no 
demonstration of respectful attention was omitted to 
honour the remains of a brave, but unfortunate stranger. 
" In this sanguinary engagement the Chesapeake 
lost her commander and forty-seven men killed, and 
ninety-seven wounded, of whom fourteen afterwards 
died. Among these were lieutenant Ludlow, first 
lieutenant of the ship, and lieutenant Ballard, the 
fourth lieutenant, both excellent officers. 

" On the part of the Shannon captain Broke was 
dangerously wounded, though he has since recover- 
ed ; the first lieutenant, the purser, captain's clerjr 
and twenty-three seamen killed, and fifty-seven per 

" flons wounded, besides captain Broke. 




a 
< 

H 

< 

» 



NAVAL BATTLES. 97 

" The captuie of the Chesapeake is to be ascribed 
wholly to the extraordinary loss of officers (a loss 
without any precedent, as far as we can recollect, in 
naval history ;) and to her falling accidentally on 
board the Shannon. During the three broadsides, 
while the officers of the Chesapeake were living, and 
she was kept clear of the enemy, the superiority was 
manifestly with the Americans. The Chesapeake 
had received scarcely any damage, while the Shan- 
non had several shots between wind and water, and 
could with difficulty be kept afloat during the suc- 
ceeding night. It was only when accident threw 
the Chesapeake on board the Shannon, when her 
officers were unable to lead on the boarders, that 
captain Broke himself, contrary, we believe, to the 
regulations of the British navy, left his own ship, and 
was able, by superior numbers, to overpower the 
distracted crew of the Chesapeake. 

"We have heard many accounts, which we are 
very reluctantly compelled to believe, of improper 
conduct by the British after the capture, and of bru- 
tal violence offered to the crew of the Chesapeake. 
As, however, some allowances are due to the exas- 
perated passions of the moment, something too to the 
confusion of a bloody and doubtful struggle, we are 
unwilling to prolong the remembrance of imputations 
which may be disproved, and perhaps have been ex- 
aggerated. 

"But we should wrong the memory of captain 

Lawrence, we should be unjust to the officers of the 

American navy, with whose glory all the aspiring 
13 



98 NAVAL BATTLES. 

ambition of the country is so closely blended, if we 
omitted any opportunity of giving the last and fair- 
est lustre to their fame, by contrasting their conduct 
with that of the enemy, or if we forbore, from any 
misplaced delicacy towards our adveirsaries, to report 
circumstances connected with the fate of the Chesa- 
peake, which throw a broad and dazzling light on the 
generous magnanimity of our countrymen." 

Our readers cannot have failed to observe the li- 
berality which was extended to the officers and crews 
of the Guerriere, Macedonian, and Java, and the 
still more striking instance of the Peacock. " When 
the Chesapeake was taken by the Shannon, the key 
of captain Lawrence's store room was demanded 
of the purser. It was given ; but the purser observ- 
ed at the same time, that in the captures of the Guer- 
riere, Macedonian, and Java, the most scrupulous re 
gard was paid to the private property of the British 
officers ; that captain Lawrence had laid in stores for 
a long cruise ; and that the value of them would be a 
great object to his widow and family, for whose use 
he was desirous, if possible, of preserving them. This 
request was not merely declined ; it was haughtily 
and superciliously refused. 

" However we may mourn the sufferings of that 
day, the loss of the Chesapeake has not, in our esti- 
mation, varied the relative standing of the marine of 
the two countries ; nor does it abate, in the slightest 
degree, any of the loftiness of our naval pretensions. 
The contest was wholly unequal in ships, in guns, in 
crews, In officers, in every thing. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 99 

^' The Shannon was a better ship ; she had not 
upon her the curse of that ill-omened name, the 
Chesapeake. The Shannon was a stronger ship ; she 
mounted twenty-eight eighteen pounders on the main 
deck, twenty-two thirty-two pound carronades, and 
two long brass nine or twelves, on the spar deck, and a 
large carronade amidships, in all fifty-two guns, be- 
sides this last heavy carronade ; while the Chesapeake 
mounted twenty-eight eighteen pounders on the main 
deck, and twenty thirty-two pound carronades, and 
one eighteen pounder, chase gun, on the spar deck, in 
all forty-nine guns. 

" The Shannon had a better crew. Besides her 
complement she had seamen from two other ships. 
That crew, too, had been long at sea ; long in the 
ship ; were known ; were tried ; and as commodore 
Broke sent a challenge, w^ere, of course, men on 
whom, if they were not picked for the occasion, he 
knew he could confide. The Chesapeake had, on 
the contrary, in part, a new crew, unknown to their 
officers, not yet knowing their places or the ship. 
The ship had not been more than a few hours at 
sea, and the landsmen and the landswomen had been 
dismissed from her on the very day of the engage- 
ment. The officers, too, although we should be 
the last to detract from their merits, and although the 
manner in which they fought their ship does them 
the highest honour^ the officers were young and feyv 
in number, and had as yet hardly any opportunity of 
disciplining or knowing their seamen ; yet, under 
all these disadvantages, the great damage sustained 



100 IS AVAL BATTLES. 

bj the Shannon, and the greai loss of her crew, 
all which took place before the boarding, warrant 
completely the opinion, that, but for the accidental 
loss of officers, the victory would have been with the 
Chesapeake."* 

Mr. Crowninshield, of Salem, obtained a flag of 
truce for the purpose of conveying to the United 
States the bodies of Lawrence and Ludlow, which 
he performed. On his return to Salem, the bodies 
of the departed heroes were conveyed, with the most 
affecting ceremonies, from the cartel to the shore. 
From the time the boats left the brig, until the bo- 
dies were landed, minute guns were fired from the ves- 
sels in the harbour. When placed upon the hearses, 
they were covered with the colours, which they 
had so lately and so signally honoured, and moved 
to a convenient distance for the procession to form, 
which moved to solemn musick, to the meetinghouse. 
The corpses were then placed in the centre of the 
church, by the seamen who rowed them to the 
shore, and who stood, during the whole of the ser- 
vice, leaning upon them in an attitude of mourning. 
The church was hung with Cyprus and evergreen. 
The names of Lawrence and Ludlow appeared 
in letters of gold, encircled by festoons of evergreen, 
immediately in front of the desk. An eulogy was 
pronounced by the honourable judge Story. After the 
performances in the meetinghouse, the seamen con- 
veyed the remains to the tomb, where the masonick 
societies and military corps, paid the last ritual hom- 
age to the illustrious dead. 

* Port Folio. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 101 

The bodies of the deceased, at the request of their 
relatives, were afterwards carried to New York, and 
interred with the respect due to brave men, sacrific- 
ed in defence of their country. 



COM. DECATUR BLOCKADED IN NEW LONDON. 

In the early part of the summer, (1813,) commo- 
dore Decatur, in the frigate United States, accom- 
panied by the Macedonian, captain Jones, and the 
sloop of war Hornet, put to sea from New York. 
But a very superior force, consisting of line of battle 
ships and frigates, hove in sight and gave chase im- 
mediately after he left port. The American squad- 
ron was fortunate enough to reach the harbour of 
New London, where, for the remainder of the sum- 
mer, they were blockaded, without any thing inter- 
esting occurring except an attempt made to blow up 
some of the English vessels by a fireship. The fire- 
ship was called the Eagle, and fitted out for the pur- 
pose by John Scudder. It was supposed that on her 
being captured, she would be taken along side one 
of the vessels of war, when, in attempting to unlade 
her, a considerable quantity of powder and other 
combustibles would have been set on fire. The at- 
tempt was made in the month of June. She was 
taken possession of by the British ; but blew up be- 



102 NAVAL BATTLES. 

fore she got alongside any of their large vessels. At 
the time of explosion, four boats vi^ere seen alongside 
which were all, with the men on board them, de- 
stroyed. It is supposed that upwards of one hundred 
of the British perished. 



CAPTURE OF THE EAGLE. 

In the month of July, a fishing smack was sent by 
commodore Lewis, of New York, for the purpose of 
capturing by stratagem the sloop Eagle, a tender of 
the Poictiers, a British vessel of seventy-four guns. 
The smack was borrowed of some fishermen. A 
calf, a sheep, and goose were put on board. Be- 
tween thirty and forty men well armed with muskets 
were secreted in the cabin, and fore peak of the 
smack. Thus prepared she stood out to sea as if 
going on a fishing voyage to the banks. Only three 
men appeared on deck, dressed as fishermen. The 
Eagle, on perceiving the smack, gave chase. After 
coming along side, and discovering live stock on 
board, she ordered the smack down to the commo- 
dore, then about five miles off. The helmsman of the 
smack answered, " Aye, aye, sir ; " and apparently 
put up the helm for that purpose, which brought the 
smack along side the Eagle, not more than three 
yards distant. The watch word Lawrence, was then 
given, and the armed men rushed on deck from be- 



NAVAL BATTLES. 103 

low ; and poured a volley of musketry into the ten- 
der ; which drove her crew below with so much pre- 
cipitancy, that they had not time to strike her col- 
ours. As soon as sailing master Percival, who com- 
manded the smack, perceived the deck of the Brit- 
ish vessel cleared, he ordered his men to cease fir- 
ing. Upon which one of the Eagle's crew appeared 
on deck, and struck her colours. The Eagle was 
safely taken into New York.* 



THIRD CRUISE OF THE PRESIDENT 

On the 23d of April, 1813, commodore Rodgers 
put to sea from Boston, in the President frigate, ac- 
companied by the Congress, commanded by captain 
Smith. On the 30th he took his departure from 
President road. On the 3d of May, while in chase 
of a British brig of war, near the shoal of George's 
Bank, they passed to windward of three sail, one of 
which was supposed to be the La Hogue, seventy- 
four ; the others, the Nymph frigate and a merchant 
brig. After getting clear of George's Bank, they 
continued along southeastwardly, in the direction of 
the southern edge of the Gulf stream, till the 8th of 
May, when the President parted from the Congress. 
Commodore Rodgers then shaped his course, as near 
as the wind would permit, to intercept the enemy's 
* Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 209. 



104 NAVAL BATTLES. 

West India commerce, passing to the southward of 
the Grand Bank. Not meeting with any thing in 
this direction, except American vessels from Lisbon 
and Cadiz, he changed his course to the northward. 
Having reached the forty-eighth degree of north lat- 
itude, he steered for the Azores, off which he con 
tinued in different directions till the 6th of June, 
without meeting any British vessels. Being inform- 
ed by. an American vessel, that four days previous 
she had passed a British convoy from the West In- 
dies, the commodore crowded all sail in chase to 
northeast. Though disappointed in falling in with the 
convoy, he nevertheless captured four vessels. 

Being then in latitude forty-six north, longitudfe 
twenty-eight west, he determined to proceed to the 
North Sea. He however did not meet with a single 
vessel until off" the Shetland Islands, and those he 
there met with were Danish, under British license. 
His water and provisions being now nearly exhaust- 
ed, he put into North Bergen, in Norway, on the 
27th of June. A scarcity in the country prevented 
his obtaining provisions. After having filled his casks 
with water, he departed on the 2d of July, towards 
the Orkney Islands, and thence towards the North 
Cape, for the purpose of intercepting a convoy of 
twenty-five or thirty sail, which, it was said, would 
leave Archangel about the middle of July, under the 
protection of two sloops of war. This was confirm- 
ed by two vessels he captured on the 1 8th of the same 
month. In this, however, the commodore was dis- 
appointed by a seventy-four and frigate making their 



NAVAL BATTLES. lOb 

appearance off North Cape on the 19th of July, just 
as he was in momentary expectation of meeting the 
convoy. On first discovering these two vessels, 
owing to the haziness of the weather, he could not 
ascertain iheir character with precision. He accord- 
ingly stood towards them until he discovered their 
strength, when he hauled by the wind on the op- 
posite tack to avoid them. But owing to faint vari- 
able winds, and light for an entire day, for in that 
latitude and season the sun appeared above the hori- 
zon at midnight, the British vessels were enabled to 
continue the chase upwards of eighty hours. At 
times, owing to changes of the wind in favour of the 
British vessels, they were brought near to the Presi- 
dent. When these vessels gave chase to the Presi- 
dent, the privateer Scourge of New York was in com- 
pany, but so intent were the British in their chase 
of the former, that the latter escaped. 

Having but a very small quantity of provisions on 
board his vessel, commodore Rodgers determined to 
proceed to a more westerly station after having es- 
caped from the superior British force that so long 
chased him. He accordingly steered to intercept 
the trade passing out of and into the Irish channel 
where on the 25th of July and 2d of August he 
made three captures ; but receiving information that 
the British had a superior force in the vicinity, he 
deemed it expedient to change his cruising ground. 
After having made a circuit round Ireland, and hav- 
ing come into the latitude of Cape Clear, he steered 
for the Banks of Newfoundland, near to which he 
14 



106 l'^" X BATILES. 



captured two mo s vt sels ; from one of these he ob 
tained informatio ivt the Bellerophon, a seventy- 
four, and the Hy{) -i'ii frigate, were on the eastern 
part of the bank, only a few miles to the westward 
of him. He however did not fall in with them. 
From this place the commodore directed his cruise 
to the United States, without seeing a single vessel 
until the 22d of September, when, being near the 
south shoal of Nantucket, he met with a Swedish 
brig, and American cartel. By this time the provi- 
sions, and particularly the bread on board the Presi- 
dent, was so nearly expended, that it became indis- 
pensably necessary for the commodore to put into 
the first convenient port, after obtaining information 
of the position of the British cruisers. This he ob- 
tained by the capture of his Britanick Majesty's 
schooner High Flyer, on the 23d, with which vessel 
he arrived safe at Newport. 

During this cruise commodore Rodgers captured* 
twelve vessels of which the crews amounted to two 
hundred and seventy-one persons. . He rendered 
very effectual service to his country by harassing 
the British commerce, and forcing them to detach a 
great number of their vessels of war in an unsuc- 
cessful pursuit.* 

It is a circumstance, somewhat singular, that, since 
the rencounter with the Belvidere, commodore Rodg- 
ers has never met with an English frigate that was 
not in company with a seventy-four ; notwithstanding 
he cruised in the European seas, and coasted the 
*■ Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 213—214 



1 



NAVAL BATTLES. 107 

shores of Britain and Ireland. He twice traversed 
over more than half the globe, without meeting a 
British frigate ; and though he sought them in their 
own seas, aiid along their own shores, he never had 
the good fortune to bring one of them to action. 
Yet, with all this, commodore Rodgers has suffered 
no diminution of reputation. It is creditable to the 
American character, to cherish and uphold the high 
reputation of a meritorious officer, notwithstanding 
opportunities have not been given him to display 
his skill and prowess against an equal force of the 
enemy. 



CRUISE OF THE CONGRESS. 

The Congress, after parting with the President, 
on the 8th of May, proceeded, in a circuitous direc- 
tion, to the southeast, crossing the equator, passing 
the northeast coast of Brazil, and thence homeward. 
During this cruise, captain Smith made prizes of three 
valuable vessels of the enemy, two of which were 
destroyed, after taking out the most valuable part of 
their cargoes ; and the other given up to the prison- 
ers, who were paroled. He arrived in Portsmouth 
harbour on the 14th of December. 



108 NAVAL KATTLES. 



ARGUS AND PELICAN. 



Captain Allen, in the brig Argus, sailed from 
the United States for France, having on board Mr. 
Crawford, minister to the court of Paris, in May, 
1813. He arrived there in the short passage of 
twenty-three days, during which he captured and 
destroyed a British schooner of six guns. 

After remaining at L'Orient a few days, he pro- 
ceeded on a cruise in the British channel, where he 
captured twenty English vessels ; the crews of which 
he treated with humanity and generosity. 

The injury which captain Allen did to the British 
commerce is, in some of their papers, estimated to 
the amount of two millions. While emploj'ed iim 
burning, sinking and destroying the enemy's proper- 
ty, he was peculiarly careful to distinguish his char- 
acter from those who depredated for selfish purposes 
only. The property of the passengers was sacred 
from hostility ; not an article of that kind would he 
suffer to be touched. The passengers were allowed 
to go below, and to take what they claimed as 
their own, and no hands belonging to the Argus were 
permitted to inspect them while they were employed 
in so doing. 

On one occasion, when a passenger had left his 
surtout behind him, it was sent after him, in the boat : 
on another occasion, captain Allen ordered one of 
his hands, who was detected in the act of some petty 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



109 




110 W. . BATTLES. 

plunder of this kind, ■, o be flogged at the gangway. 
The English papers, w lile they were writhing under 
the severe injuries thus inflicted, were unanimous in 
their testimonials of lospect to the conduct of this 

JL 

gallant officer, for the humanity and delicacy with 
which he performed a service so invidious. Probably 
no action of his life c{ uld more plainly distinguish 
his character than this : he loved danger as much as 
he abhorred to plunder he defenceless. 

On the 14th of Augu.it, being in latitude fifty-two 
degrees fifteen minutes north, longitude five de- 
grees fifty minutes \vc!St, he discovered, at four 
o'clock, A. M. a large brig of war, standing down 
under a press of sail upon the wCjather quarter of the 
Argus. Captain A^^en Immediately prepared to re- 
ceive her; and ben.g ui able to get the weathergage, 
he shortened sail, and gave her an opportunity q1 
closing. At six o'cloci', the brig having displayed 
English colours, the /a'gus hoisted the American 
flag, wore round, and ^ave her the larboard broad- 
side, being at this time within grape distance, which 
was returned, and the i ction commenced within the 
range of musketry. A ew minutes past six, captain 
Allen was wounded ; ; id, being much exhausted by 
the loss of blood, was aken below. At this time, 
the Argus had lost her nain braces, main springstay, 
gafl", and try-sail mast and shortly after her sprit- 
sail-yard, and the princ pal part of the rigging on the 
larboard side of ihe fr emast. Lieutenant Watson, 
upon whom the comni- id of the vessel devolved, af- 
ter captain Al! mi w > carried below, received a 



NAVAL BATTLES. Ill 

wound on the head from a grape shot, which, for a 
time, rendered him incapable of attending to duty, 
and he was also carried below. The command now 
devolved upon lieutenant Allen ; the enemy, being 
on the weather quarter of the Argus, edged off, for 
the purpose of getting under her stern, but the Argus 
frustrated his attempt by giving him a broadside. 
About half past six, the Argus, having lost the 
use of her after-sails fell before the wind, when the 
enemy succeeded in passing her stern, and ranged 
upon the starboard side. The Wheel-ropes, and 
rigging of every description being shot away, the 
Argus became unmanageable ; and the enemy, not 
having sustained any apparent damage, had it com- 
pletely in his power to choose a position. By this 
advantage he profited, and continued to play upon 
her starboard quarter, occasionally shifting his situa- 
tion, when lieutenant Watson returned to the deck, 
and prepared to board the enemy ; but, in conse- 
quence of the shattered condition of the Argus, was 
unable to effect it. After this, the British continued 
a raking fire, which could be but faintly opposed, the 
guns of the Argus being much disabled, and seldom 
brought to bear. Having suffered in the hull and 
rigging, and also in killed and wounded, and being 
exposed to a galling fire, which, from the enemy's 
ability to manage, could not be avoided, lieutenant 
Watson deemed it necessary to surrender. The Ar- 
gus was then taken possession of by the British sloop 
of war Pelican, of twenty-one carriage guns, viz. 
sixteen thirty-two pound carronades, four long sixes, 



112 NAVAL BATTLES. 

and one twelve pound carronade, commanded by 
captain Maples. The Argus carried eighteen twen- 
ty-four pounders, and two long twelves. 

The loss on board the Pelican, as stated in the 
British official account, was eight in killed and 
wounded. 

The loss in the Argus was six killed and twelve 
wounded. Five of the wounded died, soon after, 
among whom was captain Allen, who lost his leg at 
the second broadside, and died the next day. 

It would be unjust to the feelings which are reviv- 
ed by the preceding account, and ungrateful to the 
memory of a brave and distinguished officer, to re- 
cord in our pages only the circumstances which cost 
him his life, and his countrymen so much poignant 
regret. The prominent traits of his character, and 
the honours paid to his remains, in a foreign land, 
and by those who were his adversaries in war, should 
be co-extensive with every register of naval achieve- 
ments. 

The following letter from John Hawker, Esq. 
ci-devant American consul, will be read with interest. 

Plymouth, August 19, 1813. 

Sir. — The station I have had the honour to hold 
for many years past, of American vice-consul, calls 
forth my poignant feelings in the communication I 
have to make to you of the death of your son, cap- 
tain Allen, late commander of the United States brig 
of war Argus, which vessel was captured on Satur- 
day last, in the Irish channel, after a very sharp ac- 



NAVAL BATTLES. 113 

tion of three quarters of an hour, by his Britannick 
majesty's ship Pelican. 

Early in the action he lost his left leg, but refused 
to be carried below, till from loss of blood he fainted. 
Messrs. Edwards and Delphy, midshipmen, and four 
seamen were killed ; and lieutenant Watson, the 
carpenter, boatswain, boatswain's mate, and seven 
men wounded. Captain Allen submitted to amputa- 
tion above the knee, while at sea. He was yester- 
day morning attended by very eminent surgical gen- 
tlemen, and removed from the Argus to the hospital, 
where every possible attention and assistance would 
have been afforded him had he survived ; but which 
was not, from the first moment, expected, from the 
shattered state of his thigh. At eleven, last night, 
he breathed his last ! He was sensible, at intervals, 
until within ten minutes of his dissolution, when he 
sunk exhausted, and expired without a struggle ! 
His lucid intervals were very cheerful, and he was 
satisfied and fully sensible that no advice and assist- 
ance would be wanting. A detached room was pre- 
pared by the commissary and chief surgeon, and fe- 
male attendants engaged, that every tenderness and 
respect might be experienced. The master, purser 
surgeon, and one midshipman, accompanied captain 
Allen, who was also attended by his two servants. 

I have communicated and arranged with the offi- 
cers respecting the funeral, which will be in the most 
respectful, and at the same time economical manner. 
The port admiral has signified that it is the intention 

of his Britannick majesty's government, that it be 
15 



114 NAVAL BATTLES. 

publickly attended by officers of rank, and with mili- 
tary honours. The time fixed for procession is on 
Saturday, at eleven, a. m. A lieutenant-colonel's 
guard of the royal marines is also appointed. A 
w^ainscoat coffin has been ordered ; on the breast 
plate of which will be inscribed as below.* Mr. 
Delphy, one of the midshipmen, who lost both legs, 
and died at sea, was buried yesterday in St. Andrew's 
churchyard. I have requested that captain Allen 
jnay be buried as near him, on the right (in the same 
vault, if practicable,) as possible. 

I remain, respectfully, sir, your most obedient, 
humble servant. 

(Signed) JOHN HAWKER, 

Cidevant American vice-consul 
To Gen. Allen, &c. &c. Stc. Providence, R. I. 

On the 21st of August, agreeably to previous ar- 
rangement, the remains of the departed Allen were 
interred at Plymouth. The following was the order 
of the funeral procession. 

PROCESSION. 

Guard of Honour. 

Lieutenant-colonel of royal marines, 

with two companies of that corps, 

The captains, subalterns and field-adjutant (Officers 

with hat-bands and scarfs.) 

Royal marine band. 



* Tablet, whereon will be recorded the name, rank, age and 
character of the deceased, and also of the midshipman, will be 
placed (if it can be contrived) as I have suggested ; both having 
lost their lives in fighting for the honour of their country. 



NAVAL BAT J^^, 116 

Vicar and curate of I';;. And.ews. 
Clerk of dii :o. 

THE HEARS];, 

With the corpse of the d( ce«**<id captain, 
Attended by eight seamen, late of th 'as, with crape round 

their arms, tied with white crape ribbon. 

Also, eight British captains of the royal navy, as pall-bearers, 

with hat-bands and scarfs. 

Captain Allen's servants in mourning. 

The officers, late of the Argus, in uniform, with crape sashes 

and hat-bands, two and two. 

John Hawker, Esq. late American vice-consul, and his clerks, 

Captain Pellowe, commissioner for prisoners of war. 

Dr. M'Grach, chief medical officer at Mill Prison depot. 

Captains of the royal navy, in port, two and two 

Followed by a very numerous and respectable 

retinue of inhabitants. 

The procession left Mill Prison at twelve o'clock. 
The coffin was covered with a velvet pall, on which 
was spread the American ensign, under which the 
action was fought, and on that the hat and sword of 
the deceased were laid. On the coffin being remov- 
ed to the hearse, the guard saluted ; and when de- 
posited in the hearse, the procession moved forward, 
the band played the " Dead march in Saul." On 
their arrival near the church, the guard halted and 
clubbed arms, single files inward, through which the 
procession passed to the church, into which the corpse 
was carried, and deposited in the centre aisle, whilst 
the funeral service was read by the reverend vicar, 
after which it was removed and interred in the south 
yard, (passing through the guard the same order 
from as to the church, on the right of Mr. Delphy, 



116 NAVAL BATTLES. 

midshipman of the Argus, who lost both his legs in 
the same action, and was buried the preceding eve- 
ning. 

Thus lived and thus died William Henry Allen. 

By the company and conversation of the elegant 
and polite, the hard and severe duties of the sailor 
acquired a sort of polish, and his character present- 
ed that combination of gallantry, grace and intrepi- 
dity, that so irresistibly attracts. In the hour of 
danger, he was calm, intrepid and persevering ; in pri- 
vate intercourse, guarded, affable and delicate. En- 
tering into the navy with large and expanded ideas of 
honour, the perils he encountered, and the hard ser- 
vices he endured, consolidated his romantick and 
floating visions into rules and principles of action. 
By never lowering his lofty standard amidst the jus- 
tie of contending difficulties, he at length arrived at 
it ; and new trials served only to call into exercise 
new and unexplored resources of fortitude. He had 
so long forsaken every other consideration for glory, 
that he finally measured his life by this standard, and 
felt a repulsive antipathy to whatever fell short of 
that measure. 

There has seemed a sort of compact among our 
naval commanders, never to quit their station on 
deck. Allen, in his mutilated state, refused to be 
carried below, and fainted on the deck from loss of 
blood. Lawrence showed the same determined spir- 
it, >and never left his station until he was too far ex- 
hausted by his wounds to animate his men by his ex- 
ample. Burrows, although mortally wounded at his 



• NAVAL BATTLES. 117 

quarters, still remained at his post, survived the ac- 
tion, and there received the sword of his gallant and 
intrepid antagonist. 

The following extract from captain Allen's letter, 
addressed to his sister, will show the character of 
this intrepid officer in an amiable light : 

" When you shall hear that I have ended my earth- 
ly career, that I only exist in the kind remembrance 
of my friends, you will forget my follies, forgive my 
faults, call to mind some little instances dear to re- 
flection, to excuse your love for me, and shed one 
tear to the memory of HENRY." 



ENTERPRIZE AND BOXER. 

On the 1st of September, the United States brig 
Enterprize, commanded by lieutenant William Bur- 
rows, sailed from Portsmouth on a cruise. On the 
morning of the 3d, Burrows discovered a schooner, 
which was chased into Portland harbour, where the 
Enterprize was brought to anchor. Having received 
information of several privateers being ofFManhagau, 
he weighed anchor and swept out the following 
morning, and stood for that place. Next day a large 
brig of war was discovered, to which chase was im- 
mediately given. The enemy fired several guns, 
and stood for the Enterprize, with four ensigns hoist- 
ed. After manoeuvring and recounoitering for some 



118 NAVAL BATTLES. 

time for the purpose of discovering the force of the 
enemy, lieutenant Burrows, about three in the after- 
noon, shortened sail, tacked, and run down, with the 
intention of bringing her to close action. At twenty 
minutes after three the firing commenced from both 
vessels, within half pistol shot. The action contin- 
ued for about a quarter of an hour, when the Enter- 
prize ranged ahead of the enemy, rounded to, and 
raked her. Shortly after the main-top-mast and top 
sail-yard of the enemy came down. The foresail of 
the Enterprize was then set, and she took a position 
on the Starboard bow of the enemy, and continued to 
rake her, until, about forty minutes after the com- 
mencement of the action, the enemy ceased firing, 
and cried for quarters : their colours being nailed to 
the masts, could not be hauled down. 

The prize proved to be the British brig Boxer, of 
fourteen guns. The number of her crew could not 
be ascertained, but sixty-four prisoners were taken, 
including seventeen wounded. On board the Enter- 
prize there was only one killed and thirteen wounded, 
two of whom died of their wounds. 

Lieutenant Burrows fell in the commencement of 
the action, he, however, refused to be carried below, 
but, raising his head, requested that the flag might 
never be struck. When the sword of the vanquished 
enemy was presented to the dying conqueror, he 
clasped his hands and said, " I am satisfied ; F die 
contented ;" and then, and not till then, would he 
consent to be carried below, where every attention 
was paid to save his life, but in vain. A few liours 



NAVAL BATTLES. 

«*ir~ir!'!ii 



119 




120 NAVAL BATTLES. 

after the victory he breathed his last. — Captain 
Bljthe, the commander of the Boxer, also fell in the 
commencement of the action, having received a can- 
non shot through the body. His remains, in compa- 
ny with those of lieutenant Burrows, were brought 
to Portland, where the two commanders were inter- 
red, side by side, with military honours. 

The Boxer was so much damaged in her sails, rig- 
ging, spars, hull, &c. as to render it difficult to carry 
her into port. The Enterprize received but trifling 
injury. On an examination of the prize, she was ad- 
judged wholly to the captors, agreeably to law, as a 
vessel of superior force. 

Soon after the arrival of the Enterprize and her 
prize at Portland, the bodies of the two commanding 
officers, lieutenant Burrows and captain Blythe, were 
brought on shore in ten oared barges, rowed at min- 
ute strokes by masters of ships, accompanied by 
most of the barges and boats in the harbour, while 
minute guns were fired from the two vessels. A 
grand procession was then formed, the corpse of lieu- 
tenant Burrows preceding, and the interment took 
place with all the honours that the civil and military 
authorities at the place, and the great body of the 
people, could bestow. During the procession forts 
Preble and Scammel, (names dear to their country,) 
fired minute guns. 

It is worthy of record that the crew of the Boxer 
were permitted to march in the late procession at Port- 
land, when their late captain was interred. Such was 
not the case with the crew of the Chesapeake. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 121 

The following documents we think will be read 
with more satisfaction than any thing we could write 
on the same subject ; especially the letter from lieut- 
enant M'Call, the officer on whom the command of 
the Enterprize devolved after lieutenant Burrows was 
rendered incapable of directing the action. 



Copy of a letter from captain Hull to the Secretary of the Navy, 
Portland, September 7, 1813. 

Sir, — I had the honour last evening to forwara 
you by express, through the hands of commodore 
Bainbridge, a letter received from Samuel Storer^ 
Esq. navy agent at this place, detailing an account 
of the capture of the British brig Boxer by the United 
States brig Enterprize. 

I now have to inform you that I left Portsmouth 
this morning, and have this moment arrived, and, as 
the mail is closing, I have only time to enclose you 
the report of lieutenant M'Call, of the Enterprize, 
and to assure you that a statement of the situation 
of the two vessels as to the damage they have re- 
ceived, &c. shall be forwarded as soon as surveys can 
be made. The Boxer has received much damage in 
her hull, masts and sails, indeed it was with difficulty 
she could be kept afloat to get her in. The Enter- 
prize is only injured in her masts and sails. I have 
the honour to be, &c. 

ISAAC HULL. 

The Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy. 

16 



122 NAVAL BATTLES. 

United States brig Enterprize, Portland, September 7, 1813 
Sir, — In consequence of the unfortunate death of 
lieutenant-commandant William Burrows, late com- 
mander of this vessel, it devolves on me to acquaint 
you with the result of the cruise. After sailing from 
Portsmouth on the 1st instant, we steered to the 
eastward ; and on the morning of the 3d, off Wood 
Island, discovered a schooner, which we chased into 
this harbour, where we anchored. On the morning 
of the 4th, weighed anchor and swept out, and con- 
tinued our course to the eastw^ard. Having re- 
ceived information of several privateers being off 
Manhagan, we stood for that place ; and on the fol- 
lowing morning, in the bay near Penguin Point, dis- 
covered a brig getting under Avay, which appeared to 
be a vessel of war, and to which we immediately 
gave chase. She fired several guns and stood for us, 
having four ensigns hoisted. After reconnoitering 
and discovering her force, and the nation to which 
she belonged, we hauled upon a wind to stand out 
of the bay, and at three o'clock shortened sail, tack- 
ed to run down with an intention to bring her to close 
action. At twenty minutes after three, p. m. when 
within half pistol shot, the firing commenced from 
both, and after being w^armly kept up, and with some 
manoeuvring, the enemy hailed and said they had 
surrendered, about four, p. m. — their colours being 
nailed to the masts, could not be hauled down. She 
proved to be his Britannick majesty's brig Boxer, of 
fourteen guns, Samuel Blythe, Esq. commander, who 
fell in the early part of the engagejuent, having re- 



NAVAL BATTLES. 123 

ceived a cannon shot through the body. And I am 
sorry to add that lieutenant Burrows, who had gal- 
lantly led us into action, fell also about the same time 
by a musket ball, which terminated his existence in 
eight hours. 

The Enterprize suffered much in spars and rigging 
and the Boxer in spars, rigging and hull, having 
many shots between wind and water. 

It would be doing injustice to the merit of Mr. 
Tillinghast, second lieutenant, were I not to men- 
tion the able assistance I received from him during 
the remainder of the engagement, by his strict at- 
tention to his own division and other departments. 
And of the officers and crew generally, I am happy to 
add, their cool determined conduct have my warmest 
approbation and applause. 

As no muster roll that can be fully relied on has 
come into my possession, I cannot exactly state the 
number killed and wounded on board the Boxer, but 
from information received from the officers of that 
vessel, it appears there were between twenty and 
twenty-five killed and fourteen wounded. Enclosed 
is a list of the killed and wounded on board of the 
Enterprize. I have the honour to be, &:c. 

EDV/ARD R. M'CALL, Senior Officer. 

Isaac Hull, Esq. commanding naval officer 
on the eastern station. 

A Card. — Captain Hull, with the officers and 
crew of the United States brig Enterprize, are deep- 
ly impressed with the readiness and alacrity with 



4 



124 NAVAL BATTLES. 

which the inhabitants of Portland, in their civil and 
military departments, assembled to do honour to the 
memory of the brave lieutenant William Burrows, 
late commander of the Enterprize, who fell in the 
gallant action with his Britannick majesty's brig 
Boxer, which she captured and brought into this port ; 
and beg they will receive their grateful acknowledg- 
ments for their very handsome tribute of respect ex- 
hibited in their attendance on the funeral of that 
brave officer, as well as that of his gallant competi- 
tor, captain Samuel Blythe, late commander of the 
Boxerj who fell in the same action, and to whom 
equal honours were paid in every respect, in their 
funeral obsequies, exhibiting to the world an evidence 
of that character which the Americans are proud to 
possess, of showing every tribute of respect to a 
brave enemy who has fallen in combat, and of ex- 
tending to those in their power every mark of liber- 
ality and comfort consistent with their situation as 
prisoners. 

Captain Hull, with the officers and crew of the 
Enterprize, embrace the present occasion to express 
the sense which they entertain of the prompt atten- 
tion and of the active and humane exertions of Sam- 
uel Storer, Esq. the United States navy agent at 
Portland, in having every accommodation provided 
for the wounded on board the United States "brig 
Enterprize as well as those on board the Boxer, be- 
tween whom no distinction was made. And they 
likewise beg the physicians of Portland who have 
been so kind as to affi^rd the most prompt and am- 



NAVAL BATTLES. 125 

pie exercise of their p/ofessions towards the wound- 
ed of both vessels, to accept their best thanks. 

Extract of a letter from captain Hull to commodore Bainbridge, 
dated, September 10, 1813. 

" I yesterday visited the two brigs, and was aston- 
ished to see the difference of injury sustained in the 
action. The Enterprize has but one eighteen pound 
shot in her hull, one in her mainmast, and one in her 
foremast; her sails are much cut with grape shot, 
and there are a great number of grape lodged in her 
sides, but no injury done by them. The Boxer has 
eighteen or twenty eighteen pound shot in her hull, 
most of them at the water's edge — several stands 
of eighteen pound grape stick in her side, and such 
a quantity of small grape that I did not undertake to 
count them. Her masts, sails and spars, are literal- 
ly cut to pieces, several of her guns dismounted and 
unfit for service ; her top gallant forecastle nearly tak- 
en off by the shot, her boats cut to pieces, and her 
quarters injured in proportion. To give you an idea 
of the quantity of shot about her, I inform you that 
I counted in her mainmast alone three eighteen pound 
shot holes, eighteen large grape shot holes, sixteen 
musket ball holes, and a large number of smaller 
shot holes, without counting above the cat harpins. 

" We find it impossible to get at the number kil- 
led ; no papers are found by which we can ascertain 
it — I however, counted upwards of ninety hammocks 
which we»e in her netting with beds in them, besides 
several beds without hammocks ; and she has excel- 



126 NAVAL BATTLES. 

accommodations for all her officers below in state- 
rooms, so that I have no doubt that she had one hun- 
dred men on board. We know that she has several 
of the Rattler's men on board, and a quantity of wads 
was taken out of the Rattler, loaded with four large 
grape shot, with a small hole in the centre to put in 
a cartridge that the inside of the wad may take fire 
when it leaves the gun. In short, she is in every re- 
spect completely fitted, and her accomodations ex- 
ceed any thing I have seen in a vessel of her class." 
A publick dinner was given at Portland to lieute- 
nant M'Call and the other officers of the Enterprize, 
for their gallant conduct in the action with the Box- 
er. 



THE ESSEX. 



Captain Porter, in the frigate Essex, proceeded 
to sea from the Delaware, on the twenty-seventh of 
October, 1812, and repaired, agreeably to instruc- 
tions from commodore Bainbridge, to the coast of 
Brazil, where different places of rendezvous had 
been arranged between them. In the course of his 
cruise on this coast he captured his Britannic k majes- 
ty's packet Nocton, and after taken out of her about 
eleven thousand pounds sterling in specie, ordered 
her for America. Hearing of commodore Bain- 
bridge's victorious action with the Java, which would 



NAVAL BATTLES. 127 

oblige him to return to port, and of the capture of 
the Hornet by the Montague, and learning that there 
was a considerable augmentation of British force on 
the coast, and several ships in pursuit of him, he 
abandoned his hazardous cruising ground, and stretch- 
ed away to the southward, scouring the coast as 
far as Rio de la Plata. From tbence he shaped 
his course for the Pacifick Ocean, and, after suffering 
greatly for want of provisions, and heavy gales off 
Cape Horn, arrived at Valparaiso, on the 14th of 
March, 181.3. Having victualled his ship, he ran 
down the coast of Chili and Peru, and fell in with a 
Peruvian corsair, having on board twenty-four Ameri- 
cans, as prisoners, the crews of two whaling ships, 
which she had taken on the coast of Chili. The 
Peruvian captain justified his conduct on the plea of 
being an ally of Great Britain, and the expectation 
likewise of a speedy war between Spain and the 
United States. Finding him resolved to persist in 
similar aggressions, captain Porter threw all his guns 
and ammunition into the sea, liberated the Americans, 
and wrote a respectful letter to the viceroy explain- 
ing his reasons for so doing, which he delivered to 
the captain. He then proceeded to Lima, and lucki- 
ly recaptured one of the American vessels as she was 
entering the port. 

After this he cruised for several months in the 
Pacifick, ipflicting immense injury on the British 
commerce in those waters. He was particularly 
destructive to the shipping employed in the sperma- 
ceti whale fishery. A great number with valuable 



128 

^AVAL BATTLES. 



prisoners , three sent to Valparaiso and laid up • 
three sent to America ; one of them he retained as J 
storeshjp, and another he equipped with twentylL 
ca ed the Essex junior, and gave the comman Th"; 
to heutenant Downes. Most of these ships mo„n - 

ever:r:;'tr"' ^"' "^^ """"^^-^ -- ^ -d as 
several of them were captured bj boats or by prizes 

the officers and men of the Essex had freque't op-' 

portun,t.es of showing their skill and courtage, and 

of^acqutrmg experience and confidence in naval con- 

seTs A!b " ' """P'^"^ ''"°' '" 'hose 

2; wth ""■""""' P"'"' ^"PP"'''' •''"' "bund- 
stores! e '''"T"'-' ''"''''"«' '"''''"'''' =>"d naval 
stores of every description, he was enabled for a long 

toe to keep the sea, without sickness or inconve 
menceto h,s crew; living entirely on the enemy 
and bemg enabled to make considerable advance 
of pay to h.s officers and crew without drawing o„ 
government. The unexampled devastation achieved 
by h,s darmg enterprises, not only spread alarm 
throughout the ports df the Pacifick, but even occa 
sioned great uneasiness in Great Britain. 

Numerous ships were sent out to the Pacifick in 
pursutt of him; others were ordered to cruise in the 
Chma seas, oir New Zealand, Timor and New Hoi! 
tand, and a fngate sent to the river La Plata. The 
manner m which captain Porter cruised, however 
completely baffled pursuit. Keeping in the :;» 



NAVAL BATTLES. 129 

sea, or lurking among the numerous barren and des- 
olate islands that form the Gallipagos group, and 
never touching on the American coast, he left no tra- 
ces by which he could be followed ; rumour, while 
it magnified his exploits, threw his pursuers at fault ; 
they were distracted by vague accounts of captures 
made at different places, and of frigates supposed to 
be the Essex hovering at the same time off different 
coasts and haunting different islands. 

In the mean while captain Porter, though wrapped 
in mystery and uncertainty himself yet received fre- 
quent and accurate accounts of his enemies, from the 
various prizes which he had taken. Lieutenant 
Downes, also, who had convoyed the prizes to Val- 
paraiso, on his return, brought advices of the expect- 
ed arrival of commodore Hillyar in the Phoebe fri- 
gate rating thirty-six guns accompanied by two 
sloops of war. Glutted with spoil and havock, and 
sated with the easy and inglorious captures of mer- 
chantmen, captain Porter now felt «ager for an op- 
portunity to meet the enemy on equal terms, and to 
signalize his cruise by some brilliant achievement. 
Having been nearly a year at sea, he found that his 
ship would require some repairs, to enable her to 
face the foe ; he repaired, therefore, accompanied 
by several of his prizes, to the Island of Nooah- 
eevah, one of the Washington group, discovered by 
a captain Ingraham of Boston. Here he landed, 
took formal possession of the island in the name of 
the government of the United States, and gave it the 
name of Madison's Island. He found it large, pop- 
17 



130 NAVAL BATTLES. 

ulous and fertile, abounding with the necessaries of 
life ; the natives in the vicinity of the harbour v^^hich 
he had chosen received him in the most friendly 
manner, and supplied him with abundance of provi- 
sions. During his stay at this place he had several 
encounters with some hostile tribes on the island, 
whom he succeeded in reducing to subjection. 

Having calked and completed overhaled the ship, 
made for her a new set of water casks, and taken on 
board from the prizes provisions and stores for up- 
wards of four months, he sailed for the coast of Chili 
on the 12th December, 1813. Previous to sailing 
he secured the three prizes which had accompanied 
hiin, under the guns of a battery erected for their 
protection, and left them in charge of lieutenant 
Gamble of the marines and twenty-one men, with or- 
ders to proceed to Valparaiso, after a certain period. 

After cruising on the coast of Chili without suc- 
cess, he proceeded to Valparaiso, in hopes of falling 
in with commodore Hillyar, or, if disappointed in this 
wish, of capturing some merchant ships said to be ex- 
pected from England. While at anchor at this port, 
commodore Hillyar arrived, having long been search- 
ing in vain for the Essex, and almost despairing of ever 
meeting with her. Contrary to the expectations of 
captain Porter, however, commodore Hillyar, besides 
his own frigate, superior in itself to the Essex, was 
accompanied by the Cherub sloop of war, strongly 
armed and manned. These ships, having been sent 
out expressly to seek for the Essex, were in prime 
order and equipment, with picked crews, and hoisted 



NAVAL BATTLES. •# 131 

flags bearing the motto " God and country, British 
sailors' best rights : traitors offend both." This was 
in opposition to captain Porter's motto of " Free 
trade and sailors' rights," and the latter part of it 
suggested doubtless, by errour industriously cherish- 
ed, that our crews are chiefly composed of English 
seamen. In reply to this motto captain Porter hoist- 
ed at his mizzen, " God, our country, and liberty : 
tyrants offend them." On entering the harbour the 
Phiiebe fell foul of the Essex in such manner as to 
lay her at the mercy of captain Porter ; out of re- 
spect, however, to the neiitrality of the port, he did 
not take advantage of her exposed situation. This 
forbearance was afterwards acknowledged by com- 
modore Hillyar, and he passed his word of honour 
to observe like conduct while they remained in port. 
They continued therefore, while in harbour and on 
shore in the mutual exchange of courtesies and kind 
ofiices that should characterise the private intercourse 
between civilized and generous enemies. And the 
crews of the respective ships often mingled together 
and passed nautical jokes and pleasantries from one 
to the other. 

On getting their provisions on board, the Phoebe 
and Cherub went off the port, where they cruised 
for six weeks, rigorously blockading captain Porter. 
Their united force amounted to eighty-one guns and 
five hundred men, in addition to which they took on 
board the crew of an English letter of marque lying 
in port. The force of the Essex consisted of but 
forty-six guns, all of which, excepting six long 



132 NAVAL BATTLES. 

twelves, were twenty-two pound carronades, only 
serviceable in close fighting. Her crew, having- been 
much reduced by the manning of prizes, amounted to 
but two hundred and fifty-five men. The Essex 
junior being only intended as a storeship, mounted 
ten eighteen pound carronades and ten short sixes 
with a complement of only sixty men. 

This vast superiority of force on the part of the 
enemy prevented all chance of encounter, on any 
thing like equal terms, unless by express covenant 
between the commanders. Captain Porter, there- 
fore, endeavoured repeatedly to provoke a challenge 
(the inferiority of his frigate to the Phoebe not jus- 
tifying him in making the challenge himself,) but 
-without effect. He tried frequently also to bring the 
Phoebe into single action ; but this commodore Hillyar 
warily avoided, and always kept his ships so close 
together as to frustrate captain Porter's attempts. 

Finding it impossible to bring the enemy to equal 
combat ; and fearing the arrival of additional force, 
which he understood was on the way, captain Porter 
determined to put to sea the first opportunity that 
should present. A rendezvous was accordingly ap- 
pointed for the Essex junior, and having ascertained 
by repeated trials that the Essex was a superior sail- 
er to either of the blockading ships, it was agreed 
that she should let the enemy chase her off; thereby 
giving the Essex jurtior an opportunity of escaping. 

On the next day, the 28th of March, the wind 
came on to blow fresh from the southward, and the 
Essex parted her larboard cable and dragged hei 



NAVAL BATTLES. 133 

starboaro ancnor directly out to sea. Not a moment 
was lost in getting sail on the ship ; but perceiving 
that the enemy was close in with the point form- 
ing the west side of the bay, and that there was a 
possibility of passing to windward, and escaping to 
sea by superior sailing, captain Porter resolved to 
hazard the attempt. He accordingly took in his top- 
gallant-sails and braced up for the purpose, but most 
unfortunately on rounding the point a heavy, squall 
struck the ship and carried away her main-top-mast, 
precipitating the men who were aloft into the sea, 
who were drowned. Both ships now gave chase, arfd 
the crippled state of his ship left captain Porter no al- 
ternative but to endeavour to regain the port. Find- 
ing it imposible to get back to the common anchor- 
age, he ran close into a small bay about three quar- 
ters of a mile to leeward of the battery, on the east 
of the harbour, and let go his anchor within pistol 
shot of the shore. Supposing the enemy would, as 
formerly, respect the neutrality of the place, he con- 
sidered himself secure, and thought only of repairing 
the damages he had sustained. The wary and men- 
acing approach of the hostile ships, however, display- 
ing their motto flags and having jacks at all their 
masts' heads, soon showed him the real danger of 
his situation. With all possible despatch he got his 
ship ready for action, and endeavoured to get.a spring 
on his cable, but had not succeeded, when, at fifty- 
four minutes past threie p. m. the enemy commenced 
an attack. 



134 NAVAL BATTLES. 

At first the Phcebe lay herself under his stern and 
the Cherub on his starboard bow ; but the latter 
soon finding herself exposed to a hot fire, bore up and 
ran under his stern also, where both ships kept up a 
severe and raking fire. Captain Porter succeeded 
three different times in getting springs on his cables, 
for the purpose of bringing his broadside to bear on the 
enemy, but they were as often shot away by the ex- 
cessive fire to which he was exposed. He was ob- 
liged, therefore, to rely for defence against this tre- 
mendous attack merely on three long twelve pound- 
ers, which he had ran out of the stern ports ; and 
which were worked with such bravery and skill, as 
in half an hour to do great injury to both the enemy's 
ships, and induce them to hale off and repair dama- 
ges. It was evidently the intention of commodore 
Hillyar to risk nothing from the daring courage of 
his antagonist, but to take the Essex at as cheap a 
rate as possible. All his manoeuvres were deliberate 
and wary ; he saw his antagonist completely at his 
mercy, and prepared to cut him up in the safest and 
surest manner. In the mean tiine the situation of 
the Essex was galling and provoking in the extreme ; 
crippled and shattered, with many killed and wound- 
ed, she lay awaiting the convenience of the enemy, 
to renew the scene of slaughter, with scarce a hope 
of escape or revenge. Her brave crew, however, in 
place of being disheartened, were aroused to despera- 
tion, and by hoisting ensigns in their rigging, and 
jacks in different parts of the ship, evinced their de- 
fiance and determination to hold out to the last. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 135 

The enemy having repaired his damages, now 
placed himself, with both his ships, on the starboard 
quarter of the Essex, out of reach of her carronades, 
and where her stern guns could not be brought to 
bear. Here he kept up a most destructive fire, which 
it was not in captain Porter's power to return ; the 
latter, therefore, saw no hope of injuring him with- 
out getting under way and becoming the assailant. 
From the mangled state of his rigging, he could set 
no other sail than the flyingjib ; this he caused to be 
hoisted, cut his cable, and ran down on both ships, 
with an intention of laying the Phcebe on board. 

For a short time he was enabled to close with the 
enemy, and the firing on both sides was tremendous. 
The decks of the Essex were strewed with dead, 
and her cockpit filled with wounded ; she had been 
several times on fire, and was in fact a perfect 
wreck ; still a feeble hope sprung up that she might 
be saved, in consequence of the Cherub being com- 
pelled to hale off by her crippled state ; she did not 
return to close action again, but kept up a dis- 
tant firing with her long guns. The disabled state 
of the Essex, however, did not permit her to take 
advantage of this circumstance ; for want of sail she 
was unable to keep at close quarters with the Phoebe 
who, edging off, chose the distance which best suited 
her long guns, and kept up a tremendous fire, which 
made dre^^dful havock among our crew. Many of the 
guns of the Essex were rendered useless, and many 
had their whole crews destroyed — they were man- 
ned from those that were disabled, and one gun in 



136 NAVAL BATTLES. 

particular was three times manned ; fifteen men 
were slain at it in the course of the action, though 
the captain of it escaped with only a slight wouiid. 
Captain Porter now gave up all hope of closing 
with the enemy, but finding the wind favourable, dt - 
termined to run his ship on shore, land the crew, and 
destroy her. He had approached within musket 
shot of the shore, and had every prospect of succeed- 
ing, when, in an instant, the wind shifted from the 
land and drove her down upon the Phcebe, exposing 
her again to a dreadful raking fire. The ship was 
now totally unmanageable ; yet as her head was toward 
the enemy, and he to leeward, captain Porter again 
perceived a faint hope of boarding. At this moment 
lieutenant Downes, of the Essex junior, came 
board to receive orders, expecting that captain P 
ter 'would soon be a prisoner. His services could 
of no avail in the deplorable state of the Essex, and 
finding from the enemy's putting his helm up, that 
the last attempt at boarding would not succeed, cap- 
tain Porter directed him, after he had been ten min- 
utes on board, to return to his own ship, to be prepared 
for defending and destroying her in case of attack. 
He took with him several of the wounded, leaving 
three ot his boat's crew on board to make room for 
them. The Cherub kept up a hot fire on him during 
his return. The slaughter on board of the Essex 
now became horrible ; the enemy continued to rake 
her, while she was unable to bring a s:\m to bear in 
return. Still her commander, with an obstinacy 
that bordered on desperation, persisted in the une- 



ou 
or- 

10 



I 



NAVAL BATTLES. 137 

i qual and almost hopeless conflict. Every expedient 
that a fertile and inventive mind could suggest was 
resorted to, in the forlorn hope that they might yet 
he enabled by some lucky chance to escape from the 
;:rasp of the foe. A halser was bent to the sheet 
iiiichor, and the anchor cut from the bows, to 
bring the ship's head round. This succeeded ; the 
broadside of the Essex was again brought to bear ; 
and as the enemy was much crippled and unable to 
hold, his own, captain Porter thought she might drift 
out of gun shot before she discovered that he had 
anchored. The halser, however, unfortunately part- 
ed, and with it failed the last lingering hope of the 
Essex. The ship had taken fire several times during 
the action, but at this moment her situation was aw- 
ful. She was on fire both forward and aft ; the 
flames were bursting up each hatchway ; a large 
quantity, of powder below exploded, and word was 
given that the fire was near the magazine. Thus 
surrounded by horrours, without any chance of sav- 
ing the ship captain Porter turned his attention to res- 
cuing as many of his brave companions as possible. 
Finding his distance from the shore did not exceed 
three quarters of a mile, he hoped many would be 
able to save themselves should the ship blow up. 
His boats had been cut to pieces by the enemy's shot, 
but he advised such as could swim to jump overboard 
and make for shore. Some reached it — some were 
taken by the enemy, and some perished in the at- 
tempt ; but most of this loyal and gallant crew pre- 
• 18 



138 NAVAL BATTLES 

ferred sharing the fate of their ship and their com- 
mander. 

Those who remained on board now endeavoured 
to extinguish the flames, and having succeeded, went 
again to the guns and kept up a firing for a few min- 
utes ; but the creW had by this time become so weak ^ 
ened that all further resistance was in vain. Cap- 
tain Porter summoned a consultation of the officers' 
of divisions, but was surprised to find only acting 
lieutenant Stephen Decatur M'Knight remaining ; 
of the others some had been killed, others knocked 
overboard, and others carried below disabled by se- j 
vere wounds. The accounts from every part of the 
ship were deplorable in the extreme ; representing 
her in the mosi shattered and crippled condition, iai 
imminent danger of sinking, and so crowded with thie 
wounded that even the birth deck could contain no,; 
more, and many were killed while under the surgeon's 
hands. In the mean \vhile the enemy, in consequence ^ 
of the smoothness of the water and his secure dis 
tanoi, was enabled to keep up a deliberate and con- i 
stant fire, aiming with coolness and certainty as if > 
firing at a target, and hitting the hull at every shot. 
At length, utterly despairing of saving the ship, cap- i 
tain Porter was compelled, at twenty minutes past ; 
six p. M. to give the painful order to strike the col- 
ours. It is probable the enemy did not perceive that T 
the ship had surrendered, for he continued firing ; 

several men were killed and wounded in different , 

i 

parts of the ship, and captain Porter thinking he in- " 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



139 




140 NAVAL BATTLES. 

tended to show no quarter, was about to rehoist his 
flag and to fight until he sunk, when the enemy de- 
sisted his attack ten minutes after the surrender. 

The loss of the Essex is a sufficient testimony of 
the desperate bravery with which she was defended. 
Out of two hundred and fifty-five men which com- 
prised her crew, fifty-eight were killed ; thirty-nine 
wounded severely ; twenty-seven slightly ; and thir- 
ty-one missing, making, in all one hundred and fifty- 
four. She was completely cut to pieces, and so 
covered with the dead and dying, with mangled 
limbs, with brains and blood, and all the ghastly im- 
ages of pain and death, that the officer who came 
on board to take possession of her, though accustom- 
ed to scenes of slaughter, was struck with sickening 
horrour, and fainted at the shocking spectacle. 

Thousands of the inhabitants of Valparaiso were 
spectators of the battle, covering the neighbouring 
neights ; for it was fought so near the shore that 
some of the shot even struck among the citizens, 
who in the eagerness of their curiosity, had ventur- 
ed down upon the beach. Touched by the forlorn 
situation of the Essex, and filled with admiration at 
ihe unflagging spirit and persevering bravery of her 
commander and crew, a generous anxiety ran 
fhroughout the multitude for their fate : bursts of 
delight arose when, by any vicissitude of battle, or 
prompt expedient, a chance seemed to turn up in 
their favour, and the eager spectators were seen to 
wring their hands, and uttered groans of sympathy, 
when the transient hope was defeated, and the gal- 



NAVAL BATTLES. 141 

lant little frigate once more became an unresisting 
object of deliberate slaughter. 

Though, from the distance and positions which the 
enemy chose, this battle was chiefly fought on our 
part by six twelve pounders only, yet great damage 
was done to the assailing ships. Their masts and 
yards were badly crippled, their hulls much cut up ; 
the Phoebe, especially, received eighteen twelve 
pound shot below her water line, some three feet under 
water. Their loss in killed and wounded was not 
ascertained, but must have been severe ; the first 
lieutenant of the Phoebe was killed, and captain 
Tucker, of the Cherub, was severely wounded. It 
was with some difficulty that the Phoebe and the 
Essex could be kept afloat until they anchored the 
next morning in the port of Valparaiso. 

Much indignation has been expressed against com- 
modore Hillyar for his violation of the laws of na- 
tions, and of his private agreement with captain 
Porter, by attacking him in the neutral waters of Val- 
paraiso. His cautious attack with a vastly superior 
force, on a crippled ship, which, relying on his for- 
bearance, had placed herself in a most defenceless 
situation, and which for six weeks previous had of- 
fered him fair fight, on advantageous terms, though it 
may reflect great credit on his prudence, yet certain- 
ly furnishes no triumph to a brave and generous mind. 

Captain Porter and his crew were paroled, and 
permitted to return to the United States in the Esr 
sex junior, her armament being previously taken out. 
On arriving off the port of New York, they were 



142 NAVAL BATTLES. 

overlialed by the Saturn razee, the authority. of com- 
modore Hillyar to grant a passport was questioned, 
and the Essex junior detained. Captain Porter then 
told the boarding oflicer that he gave up his parole, 
and considered himself a prisoner of war, and as such 
should use all means of escape. In consequence of 
this threat the Essex junior was ordered to remain 
all night under the lec'of the Saturn, but the next 
morning captain Porter put off in his boat, though 
thirty miles from shorQ ; and, notwithstanding he 
was pursued by the Saturn, effected his escape, and 
landed safely on Long Island. His reception in the 
United States has been such as his great services and 
distinguished valour deserved. The various interest- 
ing and romantick rumours that had reached this 
country concerning him, during his cruise in the Pa- 
cifick, had excited the curiosity of the public to see 
this modern Sinbad. On arriving in New York his 
carriage was surrounded by the populace, who took 
out the horses, and dragged him, with shouts and 
acclamations, to his lodgings. 



THE ALLIGATOR. 



Towards the latter part of January, 1814, the 
United States schooner Alligator, mounting eight or 
ten guns, with a complement of forty men, was at- 
tacked in Stone river (six miles south of the channel 



NAVAL BATTLES. 143 

of Charleston, S. C.) by six boats from the enemy^s 
squadron off the mouth of the river, having on board 
one hundred and forty men, and succeeded in beat- 
ing them off, after a warm action of thirty minutes, 
in which the enemy suffered very severely. The loss 
on board the Alligator was two killed and two wound- 
ed. Great credit is due to her commander, sailing- 
master Dent, and crew, for defeating a force so great- 
ly superior in numbers. The Alligator was after- 
wards lost in a severe gale, and twenty-three of 
her men drowned. 



CRUISE OF COMMODORE RODGERS. 

On the 18th of February, commodore Rodgers 
arrived at Sandy Hook, off New York, after a cruise 
of seventy-five days, during which he captured a 
number of British merchant vessels, and narrowly 
escaped at different times, a very superior force oi 
the enemy. 



PEACOCK AND EFERVIER. 

On the 29th of April, in latitude 27 47, longitude 
$0 9, the United States sloop of war Peacock, cap- 
tain Warrington, of twenty guns and one hundred 
and sixty men, captured, after an action of forty-two 



NAVAL DATTLES. 146 

minutes, the British hii^ Kpcrvicr of eighteen guns 
and one hundred and twenty-eight men, having on 
board one hundred and twenty thousand doUars in 

r^: specie. The loss on board tlie Epervier was eight 
killed and thirteen wounded ; among the latter was 
her first lieutenant, who lost an arm and received a 
severe sj)linter wound on the hip. Not a man in the 
Peacock was killed, and only two wounded ; and the 
injury sustained by the vessel was so trifling that in 

. fifteen njinutes after the Epervier struck, she was 
ready for another action. 

When the enemy struck, he had five feet of water 
in his hold, his main-top-mast was over the side, his 
main boom shot away, his foremast cut nearly in two 
and tottering, his bowsprit badly wounded, and for- %, 
ty-five shot holes in his hull, twenty of which were 
within a foot of his water line. By great exertions, 
the Epervier was got in sailing oriler in the course 
of the day. 

On the 1st of May, the Epervier arrived at Sa- 
vannah ; and on the 4th, the Peacock teached thq 
same place, after having been separated from her 
prize and chased for four or five days by a superior 
force of enemy's vessels. 

The Peacock shortly sailed again, and arrived at 
New York toward the latter part of October, from 
a cruise of one hundred and forty-seven days, hav- 
ing made fourteen prizes, valued at four hundred and 
ninety- four thousand two hundred and twenty-two 
dollars ; twelve of the prizes were burnt or sunk, 
and two made cartels for prisoners. 
19 



146 NAVAL BATTLES. 



CRUISE OF THE WASP.— CAPTURE OF THE REIN 

DEER. 

On the 1st of May, the United States sloop of 
war Wasp, of eighteen guns and one hundred and 
seventy-three men, captain Blakely commander, sail- 
ed from Portsmouth, N. H. on a cruise, and on 
the 28th of June, in latitude 48 36, longitude 1115 
after having made several captures, she fell in with 
engaged, and after an action of nineteen minutes, cap- 
tured his Brittanick majesty's sloop of war Reindeer, 
William Manners, esquire, commander. The Rein- 
deer mounted sixteen twenty-four pound carronades, 
two long six or nine pounders, and a shifting twelve 
pound carronade, with a complement on board of one 
hundred and eighteen men. She was literally cut 
to pieces in a line with her ports ; her upper works, 
boats and spare spars were one complete wreck, and 
a breeze springing up the day after the action, her 
foremast went by the board ; when the prisoners 
having been taken on board the Wasp, she was set 
• on fire and soon blew up. 

The loss on board the Reindeer wa? twenty-three 
killed and forty two wounded, her captain being 
among the former. On board the Wasp five were 
killed and twenty-one wounded. More than one 
half of the wounded enemy were, in consequence of 
the severity and extent of their wounds, put on 
board a Portuguese brig and sent to England. — The 



NAVAL BATTLES. 147 

loss of the Americans, although not as severe as that 
of the British, was owing, in a degree, to the prox- 
imity of the two vessels during the action, and the 
, extreme smoothness of the sea, but chiefly in repel- 
ling boarders. 

On the 8th of July, the Wasp put into L'Orient, 
France, after capturing an additional number of priz- 
es, where she remained until the 27th of August, 
when she again sailed on a cruise. On the 1st of 
September she fell in with the British sloop of war 
Avon, of twenty guns, commanded by captain Abuth- 
not, and after an action of fort} -five minutes, com- 
pelled her to surrender, her crew being nearly all 
killed or wounded. The guns were then ordered to 
be secured, and a boat lowered from the Wasp in 
order to take possession of the prize. In the act of 
lowering the boat, a second enemy's vessel was dis- 
covered astern and standing towards the Wasp. 
Captain Blakely immediately ordered his crew to 
their quarters, prepared every thing for action, and 
awaited her coming up. In a few minutes after, two 
additional sail were discovered bearing down upon 
the Wasp. Captain Blakely stood off with the ex- 
pectation of drawing the first from its companions ; 
but in this he was disappointed. She continued to 
approach until she came close to the stern of the 
Wasp, when she haled by the wind, fired her broad- 
side, (which injured the Wasp but trifling,) and re- 
traced her steps to join her consorts. Captain Blake- 
ly was now necessitated to abandon the Avon, which 
had by this time become a total wreck, and which 



148 NAVAL BATTLES. 

soon after sunk, the surviving part of her crew hav- 
ing barely time to escape to the other enemy ^s ves- 
sels. 

On board the Avon forty* wtue killiHl and sixty 
>vounded. The loss sustained by the Wasp was two 
killed and one wounded. 

The Wasp afterwards contiiuied her cruise, mak- 
ing; great havock among English merchant vessels 
and privateers, destroying an immense amount of 
the enemy's property. From the 1st of May until 
the 20th of September, she had captured fifteen ves- 
sels, most of which she destroyed* 



LOSS OF THE PRESIDENT. 

On the 14th of January, the frigate President, the 
conunand of which had been assigned to commodore 
Decatur, sailed from New York on a cruise. Owing 
to a mistake of the pilots, the ship, in going out, 
grounded on the bar, where she continued to strike 
heavy for an hour and a half. Several of her rudder 
braces being broken, and other material injury sus- 
tained, commodore Decatur thought it advisable to 
return to port, which, however, he was prevented 
from doing by the strong westerly winds. Having 
succeeded in forcing her over the bar, he shaped his 
course along the shore of Long Island for fifty miles. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 




and then s. e. by e. At five o'clock, three ships 
were discovered ahead. The commodore passed 
two miles to the northward of thejn. At daylight 
he discovered four ships in chase, one on each Vjuar- 
•ter, and two astern, tlio leading ship being a razee, 
which cojpmenced a fire upon the President, hut 
without effect. At meridian he found that he in- 
creased his distance from the razee ; but the next 
ship astern, which was the Endymion, mounting fifty 
guns, twenty-four pounders, on the maindeck, had 
gained and continued to gain upon him considerably. 
All hands were occupied in lightening the ship by 
starting water cutting away anchors, throwing over- 
board provisions, cables, spars, boats, and every arti- 
cle ffiHt could be got at, and keeping the sails vyet from 
the royals down. At unci. w«^i i. ^u^ ^nprnv was 
joined by a brig, and was coming up with the Presi- 
dent rapidly. The Endymion had approached with- 
in gunshot, and commenced a fire with her bow guns, 
which was returned from the stern of the President. 
At five o'clock, she obtained a position on the star- 
board quarter, within half point blank shot, on which 
commodore Decatur could not bring either his stern 
or quarter guns to bear. He remained in this posi- 
tion for half an hour, hoping that the enemy would 
close with him on his broadside, in which case he 
had prepared his men to board. The enemy, how- 
ever, kept his position, and every fire cut some of the 
sails and rigging of the President. In was now dusk, 
and commodore Decatur altered his course, for the 
purpose of bringing the enemy abeam ; and although 



L 



150 NAVAL BATTLES. 

their ships astern were drawing up fast, he felt satis- 
fied he shouUi be able to throw his opponent out of 
the eonibat before they eould eome up ; and was not 
without hopes of escaping. The enemy, however, 
kept off at the same instant. They continued engag- 
ed, steering south, with steering sails set, two hours 
and a half, when the Kndyniion was completely dis- 
mantled, and dropped entirely out of the action. 
The other ships of the squadron being in sight and 
almost within gunshot, commodore Decatur was of 
course compelled to abandon her. He then resumed 
his former course, to avoid, if possible, the remainder 
of the squadron, which he continued till eleven 
o'clock. At this time two fresh ships of the enemy, 
the Pomone and Tenedos, came up. The Pomone 
opened her fire unon tl- '-^— » "o^^^ ^vithin mus- 
KCi snot ; the Tenedos, about two cables length 
astern, taking a raking position on the quarter of the 
President. The other ships of the squadron, except 
the Endymion, were within gunshot. Thus situated 
with about one fifth of his crew killed and wounded, 
his ship crippled, and more than a four-fold force op- 
posed to him, without a chance of escape left, com- 
modore Decatur thought it his duty to surrender. 

The loss on board the President was twenty- 
four killed and fifty-five wounded. Among the for- 
mer were lieutenants Babbit, Hamilton and Howell. 
The loss of the enemy was not ascertained. The 
Endymion had on board in addition to her own crew, 
one lieutenant, one master's mate and fifty seamen, 
belonging to the Saturn, and when the action ceas- 



NAVAL BATTLES. 161 

ed, was left motionless and unmanageable, until she 
bent new sails, rove new rigging, and fished her 
spars ; nor did she join the squadron till six hours 
after the action, and, three hours after the surrender 
of the President. 

Commodore Decatur, and a part of his cnew were 
put on board the Endymion, and was carried to Ber- 
muda. After remaining on the Island a few days, 
he was paroled, and sailed for the United States in 
the British frigate Narcissus. 

The ships, composing the squadron m this action, . 
were the Majestic, Endymion, Pomone, Tenedos, 
and Dispatch. 

In his letter to the secretary of the navy, commo- 
dore Decatur says, " It is with emotions of pride I 
bear testimony to the gallantry and steadiness of 
every officer and man I had the honour to command 
on this occasion : and I feel satisfied, that the fact of 
their having beaten a force when equal to themselves, 
in the presence, and almost under the guns of so 
vastly superior a force, when, too, it was almost self- 
evident, that, whatever their exertions might be, they 
must ultimately be captured, will be taken as evi- 
dence of what they would have performed, had the 
force opposed to them been in any degree equal." 



GAPTURE OF THE CYANE AND LEVANT. 

On the evening of the 20th February, captain 
Stewart, of the United States frigate Constitution, 



152 NAVAL BATTLES. 

off the Island of Madeira, fell in with his Britan- 
nick majesty's ships of war Cjane and Levant, wlien 
a spirited action commenced. — In forty minutes the 
Cyane struck her colours, being much cut up, and 
the Levant endeavoured to escape. The Constitu- 
tion, after manning the prize, pursued the Levant ; 
and in half an hour came up with her, when she soon 
surrendered. 

The Levant mounted twenty-one guns, eighteen 
of which were thirty-two pound carronades, and her 
crew consisted of one hundred and sixty officers, sea- 
, men and marines, commanded by captain Douglass. 
Her loss in killed was twenty-three, apd wounded 
sixteen. 

The Cyane mounted thirty-four guns, (twentj^- 
two thirty-two pound carronades, ten eighteen pound 
do. and two long nine pounders,) and her crew con- 
sisted of one hundred and sixty-eight officers, seamen 
and marines, commanded by captain Falcon. Her 
loss in killed was twelve, and wounded twenty-six. 

The Constitution received but little injury ; her 
loss in killed was three, and woUnded twelve. 

On the 9th of March the Constitution with her 
two prizes anchored off the Isle of May, (one of the 
Cape-de-Verd' Islands.) — On the 10th she got under 
way, and made sail for St. Jago, where she anchor- 
ed. On the 12th, captain Stewart discovered three 
British frigates standing for Port Praya ; and consid- 
ering the little « respect heretofore paid by British 
vessels to neutral waters, he deemed it expedient 
to get under way. Signals were accordingly made 



<tM 



NAVAL BATTLES, 



153 




C' 



164 NAVAL BATTLES. 

for this purpose, when the Portuguese opened a fire 
upon captain Stewart from several of their batteries 
and the British frigates discovering the movements 
of our vessels, gave immediate chase. After contin- 
uing the chase for three or four hours, they succeed- 
ed in separating the Levant from the other vessels, 
when she tacked and stood for the harbour, her com- 
manding ofificer, lieutenant Ballard, hoping the neu- 
trality of the port might protect him : but in this he 
was disappointed. For after anchoring in four fath- 
om water, and within one hundred and fifty yards of 
the shore, he was wantonly attacked by the British 
frigates, (which had chased him in) when, finding all 
further resistance vain, he was compelled to strike 
his colours. 

On the 8th of April, the Cyane, commanded by 
lieutenant Hoffman, arrived in safety at New York ; 
and on the 15th of May captain Stewart arrived at 
the same place in the Constitution, after a cruise of 
about five months — having heard of the ratification of 
a treaty of peace between Great Britain and Ameri- 
ca about a fortnight previous to his arrival. 

The following particulars of the capture of the 
Cyane and Levant, of the escape of the Constitution 
with one of them and the subsequent recapture of 
the other by a British fleet, are given by captain 
Stewart, in his official letter, and may perhaps be 
more gratifying to the nautical reader, tbin our pre- 
ceding brief relation. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 155 

Minutes of the action between the United States frigate Consti- 
tution and his majesty's ships Cyane and Levant, on the 20th 
February, 1815. 

Commences with light breezes from the east, and 
cloudy weather. At one p. m. discovered a sail two 
points on the larboard bow — hauled up, and ma'?e 
sail in chase. At a quarter past one, made the sail to 
be a ship ; at three quarters past one, discovered 
another sail ahead ; made them out, at two, to be 
both ships, standing close hauled, with their starboard 
tacks on board ; at four, the weathermost ship made 
signals, and bore up for her consort, then about ten 
miles to leeward ; we bore up after her, and set low- 
er top-mast, top-gallant and royal studding sails, in 
chase ; at half past four, carried away our main roy- 
al-mast ; took in the sails, and got another prepared. 
At five, commenced firing on the chase from our two 
larboard bow guns ; our shot falling short, ceased fir- 
ing : at half past five, finding it impossible to pre- 
vent their junction, cleared ship for action, then about 
four miles from the two ships ; and forty minutes 
past five, they passed within hail of each other, and 
hauled by the wind on the starboard tack, hauled up 
their, courses, and prepared to receive us : at forty- 
five minutes past five, they made all sail close hauled 
by the wind, in hopes of gjetting to windward of us . 
at fifty-five minutes past five, finding themselves dis- 
appointed in their object, and we were closing with 
them fast, they shortened sail, and formed on a line 
of wind, about half a cable's length of each other : at 
six, having them under command of our battery, 



-•VH-.. -^r- 



156 NAVAL BATTLES. 



hoisted our colours, which was answered bj both 
ships hoisting English ensigns : at five minutes past 
six, ranged up on the starboard side of the sternmost 
ship, about three hundred yards distant, and com- 
menced the action by broadsides, both ships returning 
our fire with great spirit for about fifteen minutes ; 
then the fire of the enemy beginning to slacken, and 
the great column of smoke collected under our lee, 
induced us to cease our fire to ascertain their posi- 
tions and conditions : in about three minutes, the 
smoke clearing away, we found ourselves abreast of 
the headmost ship, the sternmost ship luffed up for 
our larboard quarter ; we poured a broadside into 
the headmost ship, and then braced aback our main 
and mizzen-top-sails, and backed astern under cover 
of the smoke, abreast the sternmost ship, when the 
action was continued with spirit and considerable 
effect, until thirty-five minutes past six, when the 
enemy's fire again slackened and we discovered the 
headmost bearing up ; filled our topsails, shot 
ahead, and gave her two stern rakes ; we then 
discovered the sternmost ship wearing also ; wore 
ship immediately after her, and gave her a stern 
rake — -she luffed to on our starboard bows, and gave 
us her larboard broadside : we ranged up on her 
larboard quarter, within hail, and were about to 
give her our starboard broadside, when she struck 
her colours, fired a lee gun, and yielded. At fifty 
minutes past six, took possession of his majesty's 
ship Cyane, paptain Gordon Falcon, mounting 
thirty-four guns. At eight, filled away after her 



NAVAL BATTLES. 157 

consort, which was still in sight tq leeward. At 
half past eight, found her standing towards us, with 
her starboard tacks close hauled, with top-gallant 
sails-set, and colours flying. At five minutes past 
eight, ranged close along side to wdndward of her 
on opposite tacks, and exchanged broadsides — wore 
immediately under her stern, and raked her with a 
broadside : she then crowded all sail, and endeavour- 
ed to escape by running — hauled on board our tacks, 
set spanker, and flying jib in chase. At half past 
nine, commenced firing on her from our starboard 
bow chaser; gave her several shot, which cut her 
spars and rigging considerably. At ten, finding she 
could not escape, fired a gun, struck her colours, and 
yielded. We immediately took possession of his 
majesty's ship Levant, honourable captain George 
Douglass, mounting twenty-one guns. At one a. m. 
the damages of our rigging were repaired, sails shift- 
ed, and the ship in fighting condition." 



Minutes of the chase of the United States frigate Constitution, 
by an English squadron of three ships, from out the harbour 
of Port Pray a, island of St, Jago: — 

Commences with fresh breezes and thick foggy 
weather. At five minutes past twelve, discovered a 
large ship through the fog, standing in for Port Praya. 
At eight minutes past twelve, discovered two other 
large ships astern of her, also standing in for the 
port. From their general appearance supposed them 
to be one of the enemy's squadrons, and from the 



158 NAVAL BATTLES. 

little respect hitherto paid by them to neutral waters, 
I deemed it most prudent to put to sea. The signal 
was made to the Cyane and Levant to get under way. 
At twelve minutes past twelve, with our top sails set 
we cut our cable and got under way, (when the 
Portuguese opened a lire on us iVom several of their 
batteries on shore) the prize ships following our mo- 
tions, and stood out of the harbour of Port Praya, 
close under East Point, passing the enemy"'s squad- 
ron about gunshot to windward of them ; crossed our 
top-gallant yards, and set foresail, mainsail, spank- 
er, llying-jib and top-gallant sails. The enemy see- 
ing us under way, tacked ship and made all sail in 
chase of us. As far as we could judge of their rates, 
from the thickness of the weather, supposed them 
two. ships of the line and one frigate. At half pas 
twelve, cut away the boats toAving astern — first cut- 
ter and gig. At one p. m. found our sailing about 
equal with the ships on our lee quarter, but the frig- 
ate lulVing up, gaining our wake, and rather dropping 
astern of us ; finding the Cyane dropping astern and 
to leeward, and the frigate gaining on her fast, I 
found it impossible to save her if she continued on the 
same course, without having the Constitution brought 
to action by their whole force. I made the signal at 
ten minutes past one, to her to tack ship, which was 
complied with. This manoeuvre, I conceived, would 
detach one of the enemy's ships in pursuit of her, 
while at the same time, from her position, she would 
be enabled to reach the anchorage at Port Praya, be- 
fore the detached ship could come up with her ; but 



NAVAL BATTLES. 159 

if they did not tack after her, it would afford her an 
opportunity to doubl/i their rear, and make her escape 
before the wind. They all continued in full chase 
of the Levant and this ship ; the ship on our lee 
quarter firing broadsides, by divisions — her shot fall- 
ing short of us. At three, by our having dropped 
the I>ievant considerably, her situation became (from 
the jKjsition of the enemy's frigate) similar to the 
Cyane. It became necessary to separate also from 
the I^evant, or risk this ship being brought to action 
to cover her. I made the signal at five minutes past 
three for her to tack, which was complied with. At 
twelve mimjtes past three, the whole of the enemy's 
squadron tacked in pursuit of the Levant, and gave 
up the pursuit of this ship. This sacrifice of the 
Levant became necessary for the preservation of the 
Constitution. Sailing master Hixon, midshipman 
Varnum, one boatswain's mate, and twelve men, 
were absent on duty in the fifth cutter, to bring the 
cartel brig under our stern. 



BLOCKADE OF CHESAPEAKE AND DELAWARE 

BAYS. 

The British government declared the Chesapeake 
and Delaware hays to be in a state of blockade. In 
the early part of the year, a squadron under the 



160 NAVAL BATTLES. 

command of admiral Warren, was sent to the en- 
trance of. the Chesapeake to enforce this blockade. 

The first interesting event this blockade gave rise 
to, was the affair of the Lottery. This vessel 
mounted six guns, and had a crew of thirtj-five men. 
In sailing out of the- Chesapeake, in the month of 
February, she was attacked by nine large British 
boats, having on board two hundred and forty well 
armed men. She sustained their united attack up- 
wards of an hour and a half, when the British suc- 
ceeded in boarding her, and pulled down her colours. 
The loss of the British exceeded the number of the 
Lottery. 

On the 3d of April, the privateer Dolphin of Balti- 
more, was captured after a long and gallant resist- 
ance, by a number of barges and launches, belong- 
ing to the blockading squadron. The British finally 
succeeded in capturing her, by boarding and over- 
powering her crew by superior numbers. 

About the middle of May, a party of the British 
blockading squadron, sailed up to the head of the 
Chesapeake bay, where they captured and destroyed 
a number of small vessels. 

About the commencement of May, a large party of 
British marines and sailors, under the command of 
rear admiral Cockburn, successfully attacked the 
villages of Frenchtown, Havre-de-grace, Georgetown 
and Fredericktown. These places were situated 
near the head of the Chesapeake, and contained but 
few inhabitants. They of course could make but 
little resistance against a numerous body of assail- 



NAVAL BATTLES. 161 

ants. The destruction committed by the ^British in 
those places was wanton in the extreme. The hous- 
es were set on fire. The furniture and other prop- 
erty of the inhabitants were either destroyed or con- 
veyed on board their vessels. The squadron soon 
after returned down the Chesapeake. 

On the 20th of June, commodore Cassin fitted out 
an expedition against some of the blockading frigates 
then in the vicinity of Crany Island. Fifteen gun 
boats were selected for this purpose and put under the 
command of captain Tarbell. The attack was com- 
menced from the gun boats upon a frigate about three 
quarters of a mile distant. Two other British frig- 
ates were in sight. The frigate sustained considera- 
ble injury, and would have been captured by the gun 
boats had not a breeze sprung up which enabled the 
other two vessels to come to her assistance. The 
action however continued an hour and a half with 
the three frigates. Only one American was killed, 
and some others slightly wounded. 

On the 22d of June, about three thousand British 
attempted to land on Crany Island, but were repuls- 
ed. Three of their barges were sunk : one of them, 
belonging to admiral Warren's ship had seventj'-five 
men in her, the greater part of whom were drowned ; 
a number of prisoners were taken. Many of the ene- 
my also deserted. The American 'troops on the is 
land consisted of about five hundred land troops un 
der the command of lieutenant-colonel Beaty ; and 
one hundred and fifty marines, and sailors, under the 

21 



162 NAVAL BATTLES. 

command of lieutenants Neale, Shubrick, Saunders, 
and Brackenridge. 

On the 25th of Jun'e, about two thousand five 
hundred British attacked the town of Hampton. 
The American force stationed there amounted to 
about four hundred, under the command of major 
Crutchfield. This small body of Americans opposed 
the very superior British force, with the utmost gal- 
lantry for a considerable time, when, overcome by 
numbers, they retreated, and the British took posses- 
sion of Hampton, where the most inhuman and shock- 
ing acts w^ere committed by them. Several of the de- 
fenceless and unfortunate females that remained in the 
place suffered every indecency and violence. Pro- 
2)erty to a large amount was most wantonly destroyed. 
. On the 14th of July the United States schooner 
Asp, of three guns and twenty-one men, in the Ches- 
apeake bay, being attacked by several British ves- 
sels, ran up a creek, whither she was pursued by 
three boats,' well manned and armed ; but the assail- 
ants were soon compelled to retreat. After the 
lapse of an hour, the Asp was again attacked by five 
boats, the crews of which succeeded in boarding her. 
The crew of the Asp retreated on shore. The Brit- 
ish set fire to the vessel and left her. The fire 
however was extinguished by the Americans. The 
loss of the latter in killed and wounded amounted to 
ten. 

On the 18th of July, an attempt was made in the 
Chesaoeake ^-^y^ to blow up the Plantaganet, a se- 
venty-four, by means of a torpedo, Mr. Mix, the 



NAVAL BATTLES. 163 

projector of the scheme, had approached within forty 
fathoms of her, and dropped the torpedo ; when he 
was hailed by one of the British guard boats. He 
instantly drew his machine into the boat and escaped. 
On the following night he made a second attempt, 
but was again discovered. In the night of the 20th, 
he made a third attempt, and got within fifteen 
yards of the ship's bow, and directly under her jib- 
boom, where he continued fifteen minutes making 
preparations, when a sentinel from the forecastle 
* hailed " Boat ahoy." The sentinel not being an- 
swered, fired his musket at the now retreating ad-^ 
venturer, to which a rapid discharge of small arms 
succeeded. Blue lights were resorted to in order to 
find out the position of the boat, but failed. Rockets 
*? were then thrown which illumined the water to a 
fe^ considerable extent, and discovered the boat. A 
heavy discharge of cannon immediately commenced. 
The Plantaganet slipped her cable, made some sail, 
while her boats were sent in pursuit. But the dar- 
ing American escaped unhurt. Unsuccessful at- 
tempts were made the three following nights. But 
on the 24th Mr. Mix took his position within one 
hundred yards of the Plantaganet, and in a direction 
with her larboard bow. The machine was dropped 
into the water, and the same moment the sentinel 
cried " All's well :" the tide swept it towards the 
vessel, but it exploded a few seconds too soon. A 
column of water fifty feet in circumference was 
thrown up thirty or forty feet. Its appearance was 
ii vivid red, tinged with purple at the sides. The 



164 NAVAL BATTLES. 

summit of the column burst with a tremendous explo- 
sion, and fell on the deck of the Plantaganet in tor- 
rents, while she rolled into the yawning chasm be- 
low, and nearly upset. She however received but' 
little injury. 

In the month of July, the blockading squadron 
again sailed up the Chesapeake and entered the Po- 
tomac : the}' however effected nothing. Soon after 
returning out of the river they sailed toward the 
head of the Chesapeake. They landed on Kent 
Island, where they remained for some time, when 
they again returned down the bay. 

On the 6th of April the blockading squadron in the 
Delaware bay commenced a cannonade on Lewis- 
town, the inhabitants of which had refused comply- 
ing with an order of the English contmodore, to sup- 
ply the squadron with provisions. The cannonade 
lasted about twenty-two hours : a number of eighteen 
and thirty-two pound shot were fired, likewise shells 
and Congreve rockets; but produced little or no 
efi'ect — not a life was lost. The inhabitants of the 
place were prompt in repelling every attempt to 
land. 

On the 27th of July, one of the United States gun 
boats was captured in the Delaware by a superior 
force, after a very gallant defence, in which the 
British had seven men killed and twelve wounded.* 

» Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 194—1^7. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 166 



GUN BOAT ACTION 

On the 19th of May, commodore Lewis, command- 
ing the United States flotilla on the New York sta- 
tion, discovered the enemy in pursuit of a brig under 
American colours standing for Sandy Hook ; when 
he ordered a detachment of eleven gun boats to pro- 
ceed to sea and pass between the chase and the en- 
emy, by which means to bring him to action, and 
give opportunity to the chase to escape — all which 
was effected ; and the enemy, after receiving the fire 
of the boats bore away. 

On the 23d, commodore Lewis engaged the ene- 
my, before New London, arjd opened a passage for 
forty sail of coasting vessels ; the action lasted three 
hours, in which the flotilla suffered very little, and 
night coming on, the action ceased. The enemy's 
force consisted of two ships and a sloop of war, and 
from appearance suffered severely, as he was unwill- 
ing to renew the action next morning. 



W' 



EVENTS ON LAKE ERIE. 



On the morning of the 8th of October, 1812, two 

itish vessels, the Detroit and the Caledonia, came 

down Lake Erie, and anchored under the guns of 



166 NAVAL BATTLES. 

the British fort Erie. Lieutenant Elliot, of the 
United States navy, who, at that time superintended 
the naval affairs on lake Erie, determined to attack, 
and if possible, to possess himself of them. 

About this time, a number of seamen were march- 
ing from the sea shore to the lake. Early the day 
before the intended attack, he despatched a messen- 
ger to hasten them forward. They arrived about 
twelve o'clock ; but he discovered that they had only 
twenty pistols, and neither cutlasses nor Jbattleaxes. 
On application to general Smyth, he was supplied 
with a few arms : and about fifty men weie detach- 
ed from the regulars, armed with muskets. 

By four o'clock in the afternoon, lieutenant Elliot 
had his men selected and stationed in two boats, fifty 
in each. At one o'clock on the following morning, 
he put off from the mouth of Buffalo creek, under 
very disadvantageous circumstances, his men hav- 
ing scarcely had time to refresh themselves after a 
fatiguing march of five hundred miles.* At three 
o'clock he came along side the British vessels. In the 
space of ten minutes he got possession of them, had 
secured the crews as prisoners, and had them under 
way. The wind, unfortunately, was not sufficiently 
strong to carry them against a rapid current into the 
lake, where, he was informed, another vessel lay at 
anchor. He was obliged in running down the river, 
to pass the British forts, under a heavy fire of round, 
grape and cannister shot, from a number of pieces of 
heavy ordnance, and several pieces of flying artille- 
ry. Lieutenant Elliot w^s compelled to anchor at 



NAVAL BATTLES. 167 

a distance of about four hundred yards from two of 
their batteries. After the discharge of the first gun 
he hailed the British officer, and observed to him, 
that if another gun were fired he would bring the 
prisoners on deck and expose them to the same fate 
with the Americans. But, notwithstanding they 
continued to keep op a constant and destructive fire 
a moment's reflection determined him not to com- 
mit an act of such barbarity. The Caledonia had 
been beached in as safe a position as circumstances 
would admit of, under one of the American batteries 
at Black Rock. 

Lieutenant Elliot now brought all the guns of his 
vessel on her side next the enemy, and a fire was 
kept up until all his ammunition was expended. 
During the contest be endeavoured to get the De- 
troit on the American side, but did not succeed. He 
then determined to drift down the river, out of reach 
of the British Batteries, and make a stand against 
their flying artillery. He accordingly ordered the 
cable to be cut, and made sail with a very light 
breeze. At this moment he discovered that his pi- 
lot had abandoned him. He dro])ped astern for 
about ten minutes, when he was brought up on Squaw 
island, near the American shore. A boat with pri- 
soners was sent on shore ; but, owing to the difficul- 
ty it met with did not return. He, however, with 
the remainder of the prisoners and crew, succeeded 
in getting on shore. 

About eleven o'clock next morning, a company of 
British regulars from fort Erie, boarded the Detroit, 



168 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



to destio)' the military stores with which she was prin- 
cipally laden. But they were dislodged by a detach- 
ment of volunteers under the command of major Cy- 
renus Chapin. About three o'clock in the afternoon 
of the same day, the British a second time attempt- 
ed to board the Detroit ; but were again repulsed. 

The Detroit mounted six long six pounders, and 
had a crew of fifty-six men. About thirty American 
prisoners were on board her. She was burnt by the 
Americans after they had taken the greater part of 
the stores out of her. The Caledonia mounted two 
small guns, and had a crew^ of twelve men. She 
had on board a cargo of furs, estimated at about one 
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 

In March 1813, captain Perry arrived at the port of 
Erie, to take command of the fleet there fitting out. 

During the summer the following American ves- 
sels were equipped on lake Erie. 

Guns. Commanders. 

20 O. H. Perry. 

20 J. D. Elliot. 

3 Turner. 

4 Packet. 
2 Charaplin. 



Brig Lawrence 
Niagara 
Caledonia 

Schr. Ariel 
Scorpion 
Somers 
Tigress 
Porcupine 
Trippe 
Ohio 



2 & 2 swivels Alney. 
l Conklin 

1 Lendt. 

1 Smith. 

1 Dobbin. 



65 guus. 



NAVAL BATTLES. * 169 

The British fleet under the command of commo- 
dore Barclay, consisted of the following vessels. 

Guns, Howitzers. 

Ship Detroit 19 2 

Queen Charlotte 17 1 

Schr. Lady Prevost 13 1 » 

Brig Hunter 10 

Sloop Little Belt 3 

Schr. Chippeway 1 

63 guns. 

On the morning of the tenth of September the 
British fleet was discovered by commodore Perry 
from Put in Bay, where he then lay at anchor. 
Commodore Perry immediately got under way with 
his squadron, and stood for the British fleet. The 
wind at that time was light from southwest. At fif- 
teen minutes before twelve, the British commenced 
firing : and at five minutes before twelve, the action 
commenced on the part of the Americans. As the 
fire of the British, owing to their long guns, was very 
severe upon the Americans, and was principally di- 
rected at the Lawrence, commodore Perry resolved 
to close with them : he accordingly made sail, and 
ordered the other vessels to follow. Every brace 
and bowline of the Lawrence being shot away, she 
became unmanageable, notwithstanding the great 
exertions of the sailing master. In this situation she 
sustained the action, within cannister distance, up- 
wards of two hours, until every gun was rendered 



170 NAVAL BATTLES. 

useless, and the greater part of her crew either killed 
or wounded. 

After a display of skill and gallantry, which, alone, 
would have been sufficient to have immortalized 
commodore Perry — after defending his vessel against 
a far superior force, to the very last extremity, this 
illustrious hero, at a criticaj moment, when, to al- 
most any other mind, the contest would have appear- 
ed hopeless, resolved to save his country's honour, or 
perish in the attempt. He therefore quitted the 
Lawrence in an open boat, and rowed off for the 
Niagara, to make one more' display of his heroism 
and talents. In his passage, there was no less than 
three broadsides fired at him by the British vessels, 
which he passed. Heaven interposed its protecting 
arm. He escaped the apparently inevitable destruc- 
tion. He reached the Niagara in safety, and a breeze 
springing up, enabled captain Elliot, who commanded 
that vessel, to bring her into close action in a very 
gallant manner. Captain Elliot anticipated the com- 
modore's desires by volunteering to bring the schoon- 
ers, which had, by the lightness of the wind, been 
kept astern, into close action. Some time after com- 
modore Perry had left the Lawrence her flag was 
lowered ; for having been so long exposed to nearly 
the whole fire of the British fleet, she was almost 
cut to pieces; and the chief part of her crew disabled, 
only eight men remaining capable of doing duty. 
The British however were not in a state to take pos- 
session of h^r, and circumstances soon permitted hev 
flag to be again hoisted. At forty-five minutes past 



NAVAL BATTLES. 171 

two, the signal was made for close action. As the 
Niagara was very little injured, commodore Perry 
determined to pass through the enemy's line with 
her. He accordingly bore up, and passed ahead of • 
their two ships and a brig, giving a raking fire to 
them from his larboard side, at half pistol shot dis- 
tance. The smaller vessels were by this time with- 
in grape and cannister distance, under the direction 
of captain Elliot. The severe and well directed fire 
from them and the Niagara, forced the two ships, the 
brig, and a schooner to surrender. A sloop and 
schooner attempted to escape, but were overtaken 
and captured. 

The Lawrence was so completely cut up, that 
after the action, she was sent to Erie to be disman- 
tled. Lieutenant Yarnell, upon whom the command 
of the Lawrence devolved after the commodore left 
her, refused to quit the deck though several times 
wounded. Lieutenant Brooke of the marines, and 
midshipman Saul, were both killed on board the 
Lawrence. As the surgeon of this vessel was stoop- 
ing, in the act of dressing or examining a wound, a 
ball passed through the ship a few inches from his 
head, which, had it been erect must have been tak- 
en off. Mr. Hambleton, purser, distinguished him- 
self, and towards the close of the action was severe- 
ly wounded. 

On board the Niagara, lieutenants Smith and Ed- 
wards and midshipman Webster behaved in a very 
handsome manner. Captain Brevoort of the army, 
who, with the men under his command, had volun- 



172 NAVAL BATTLES. 

teered, to act as marines, did great execution with 
his musketry. Lieutenant Turner, who command- 
ed the Caledonia, brought his vessel into action in 
the most gallant style. The Ariel, lieutenant Pack- 
et, and Scorpion, sailing master Champlin, got early 
into the action, and were of great service. The pur- 
ser Magrath performed essential service. Captain 
Elliot particularly distinguished himself by his exer- 
tion and skill. 

The following is an estimate of the killed and 
wounded on board the American fleet. 





Killed. 


Wounded. 


Total 


Lawrence 


22 


61 


83 


Niagara 


2 


25 


27 


Caledonia 




3 


3 


Somers 




2 


2 


Ariel 


1 


3 


4 


Trippe 




2 


2 


Scorpion 


2 




2 



27 96 123 

Of the British fleet the captain and first lieutenant of 
the Queen Charlotte, were killed. Commodore Bar- 
clay of the Lady Prevost was severely wounded, and 
lost his hand. The loss of the British in killed and 
wounded has been estimated at one hundred and sixty. 

The rejoicing at this victory in the United States, 
was extremely great. All the principal towns were 
illuminated.* 

* Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 217—222. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 173 



EVENTS ON LAKE ONTARIO. 

For a long time previous to the war, the British 
had been actively employed in equipping vessels of 
war on lake Ontario. On the 19th of July 1812, 
soon after the declaration of war reached Sackett's 
harbour, lieutenant Woolsey, of the American brig 
Oneida, then lying in Sackett's harbour, discovered 
from the mast head five sail of British armed vessels 
namely, the Royal George, of twenty-four guns ; the 
Prince Regent, a new ship carrying upwards of twen- 
ty guns, the Earl Moira of twenty, the Seneca of 
eight, the other unknown. They were about five 
leagues distant, beating up for the harbour with the 
wind ahead. The troops were immediately called to 
arms and despatches sent for the troops in the vicini- 
ty, who assembled, to the amount of nearly three 
thousand. Soon after sunrise the Prince Regent 
brought to, and captured the custom house boat, 
^bout seven miles from the harbour. The crew of 
the boat were set on shore, with a message to colonel 
Belleyer, the commandant at the harbour, demand- 
ing the surrender of the Oneida, and the late British 
schooner Nelson, seized for a breach of the revenue 
laws, and then fitting out as an armed vessel. In 
case of refusal, the British threatened to burn the 
village, and lay the inhabitants under contribution. 

Soon after this lieutenant Woolsey left the harbour 
m the Oneida, and ran down within a league of the 
British. But he soon returned, and moored his vessel 



174 NAVAL BATTLES. 

in a line with a land battery lately erected. Lieu- 
tenant Woolsey then left his vessel, in order to direct 
the guns of the land battery. By this time the Brit- 
ish fleet had arrived within gunshot. The Royal 
George, as flag ship, was ahead. A brisk firing com- 
menced on both sides, and continued upwards of two 
hoius. The Royal George and Prince Regent were 
much injured. As the former w^as veering to give a 
broadside, a shot from an American thirty-two pound- 
er, was observed to strike her and completely rake 
her. Soon after this the squadron bore away for 
Kingston. None of the Americans were injured. 

On the 31st of July, the Julia, carrying three guns 
was attacked by the British armed vessels Earl 
Moira, of sixteen guns, and the Duke of Gloucester 
of ten, at the entrance of the St. Lawrence, and 
beat them both off. 

■ In September, captain Isaac Chauncey was ap- 
pointed to command the American fleet on lake On- 
tario, then lying in Sackett's harbour, where he ar- 
rived in the month of October. In the early part of 
November, he sailed with his fleet from Sackett's 
harbour : the aggregate of guns of the American ves- 
sels amounted to forty, their crews to four hundred 
and thirty men ; that of the British to one hundred 
and eight guns, and their crews to eight hundred and 
ninety men. 

On the 8th, commodore Chauncey fell in with the 
Royal George, and chased her into Quinte Bay ; 
where he lost sight of her in the night ; but on the 
morning of the 9th, she was perceived lying in 



\ 



NAVAL BATTLES. 176 

Kingston channel. She was immediately followed 
into the harbour of Kingston. He there engaged her 
while exposed to the fire of the land batteries, for 
upwards of an hour and a quarter. Night coming on 
he haled off with the intention of renewing the at 
tack next morning ; but this the weather prevented. 

On the 10th, the commodore fell in with the Gov- 
ernor Simcoe, which however succeeded in escaping 
into the harbour of Kingston. In passing through 
the bay of Quinte, two British trading vessels were 
captured. On the 12th he returned to Sackett's 
harbour. 

On the 26th of November, the ship Madison was 
launched at Sackett's harbour. 

In the spring of the year 1813, the United States 
had the following vessels equipped on lake Ontario 

Guns 

Ship Madison 24 

Brig Oneida 18 

Schooner Governor Tompkins 6 

Hamilton 9 

Julia 2 

Elizabeth 2 

Lady of the Lake 3 

Conquest 8 

Growler 6 

Pert 3 

Fair American 4 

Ontario 1 

Scourge 8 

93 



176 NAVAL BATTLES. 

Also the Mary, bombvessel. During the summer 
the General Pike of thirtj-two guns, was added to 
the fleet. 

The British fleet in the spring consisted of the 
following vessels : 

Guns. 

The frigate General Wolfe 36 

Ship Royal George 22 

Prince Regent 16 

Brig Earl Moira 12 

Seven schooners of from four to eight guns each. 

On the 25th of April .the American fleet, under 
commodore Chauncey, left Sackett's harbour for the 
purpose of conveying the expedition, under the com- 
mand of major general Dearborn, against the British 
post at York. At this place the fleet arrived on the 
27th. The landing of the troops was covered in a 
masterly manner by the commodore. The Ameri- 
cans succeeded in their attack upon the town : but 
unfortunately, the ever to be lamented brigadier 
general Pike, was killed by explosion. A midship- 
man and some seamen of the fleet were killed. 

Commodore Chauncey, after having returned to 
Sackett's harbour from York, again sailed, on the 
22d of May for the purpose of co-operating in the 
reduction of the British fort George, which was at- 
tacked on the 28th. The vessels of the American 
squadron were judiciously stationed to cover the 
landing of the troops, and to silence the land batte- 
ries of the British ; in the latter they soon succeed- 
ed ; when a landing was effected, and the fort taken 



NAVAL BATTLES. 177 

Captain Ferry had come down from lake Erie, and 
was in this engagement. He rendered particular 
service to the commodore by assisting in arranging 
and superintending the debarkation of the troops, 
On board the fleet only one man was killed, and two 
wounded. 

On the 29th of May, during the absence of the 
American fleet, the British fleet, consisting of the 
Wolfe, Royal George, Prince Regent^ Earl Moira, 
two armed schooners, and a number of gun boats, 
with a detachment of the British army, from Kings- 
ton, attacked Sackett's harbour ; they were howev- 
er gallantly repulsed by the troops under the com- 
mand of brigadier general Brown. A few days after 
this afiair the American fleet returned to Sackett's 
harbour. 

In the latter part of July, commodore Chauncey left 
Sackett's harbour with his fleet, and on the 27th of 
the same month arrived off" Niagara. Having there 
taken about two hundred and fifty infantry on board, 
he set sail. It had been resolved to attack an encamp- 
ment of the British ; but the latter being in greater 
force than had been supposed, the attempt was aban- 
doned ; and the fleet proceeded to York, where the 
marines and soldiers were landed, under colonel 
Scott. A very considerable quantity of British stores 
were either destroyed or conveyed on board the fleet. 
The barracks and publick store houses were burnt. 
The fleet then returned to Niagara. 

On the 7th of August at daylight, the British fleet, 
consisting of two ships, two brigs, and two large 
23 



178 NAVAL HATTLES. 

schooners, were discovered bearing w. n. w. 7 hey 
were about live or six miles distant, and the \\h \ at 
west. Conuiiodoro Chauncev, havinii; passed the K^e- 
ward of the British line, and abreast of their van i hip, 
the Wolfe, hoisted Americjui colours ; and fned a few 
guns to ascertain whether the British vessels < ould 
be reached bv his shot. But discovering that they 
fell short, he wore and haled upon a wind on the 
starboard tack. The rearmost of the Ameiican 
schooners was then about six miles astern. The 
British wore in succession 5 and haled upon a wind 
on the same tack ; but perceiving the Americans 
would be enabled to weather them upon the next 
tack, thcv tacked, and made all sail to the north- 
ward. As soon as the rear vessels of the American 
squadron could reach the wake of the British, they 
tacked, and made all sail in chase. In the afternoon 
the wind became verv lia;ht, and towards niiiht a 
cahn succeeded. The American schooners used 
their sweeps all the afternoon, in endeavours to close 
with the British, but without success. Late in the 
afternoon commodore Chauncey made the signal of 
recall, and formed in close order. During the night, 
the wind was from the westward ; and after mid- 
night squally. All hands were kept at quarters, and 
tlie vessels beat to windward, in expectation of gain 
ing the wind of the British. During the night the 
two best American schooners were upset, in a heavy 
squall of wind, and sunk. Only sixteen persons wer«3 
saved from them ; all the rest perished. The names 
of the schooners were the Hamilton and Scourge, 



NAVAL JJATTLE9. 179 

mouritirij* toj^otlicr nineteen ^uns. Tliis accident 
gave the British n decided superiority. Commodore 
Chauricey expected the British would take advan- 
ta{^e of this superiority ; and the more so as by a 
chanf^e of wind they were hrouj^ht rij^ht to windward 
of him. He accordinj^ly formed his line upon the lar- 
board tack, and hove to. Soon after the British bore 
up and set studding sails, apparently with the inten- 
tion of bringing the Americans to action. When 
they had approached within four miles, they brought 
to on the starboard tack. The Americans then wore, 
and brought to, on the same tack. Commodore 
Chauncey perceiving the British did not intend bring- 
ing him to action, edged away towards the shore, in 
order to take advantage of the land breeze in the af- 
ternoon. It soon after became calm, when he direct- 
ed his schooners to sweep up and engage the British. 
About noon a light breeze blew from the eastward. 
The commodore then took the Oneida in tow, and 
made sail towards the British. When the van of the 
American schooners was within one and a half or 
two miles of the rear of the British, the wind shift- 
ed to the westward, which again brought the latter 
to windward ; when they bore up to the American 
schooners in order to cut them off, before they could 
be rejoined by commodore Chauncey. But the 
schooners succeeded in returning to their station. 
The British being thus foiled in their attempt upon 
the schooners, haled their wind, and hove to. Tlie 
weather becoming very squally, commodore Chaui- 
cey resolved to run in towards Niagara. The crei;s 



180 NAVAL BATTLES. 

of the squadrcMi were nearly forty-eight hours at 
quarters. A detachment of one hundred and fifty 
soldiers was received on board the American fleet 
from Niagara, to act as marines. On the following 
morning the British fleet was discovered bearing 
north. The American commodore immediately 
weighed anchor, and stood for them. The winds 
were light and variable, and by twelve o'clock were 
quite calm. At five, a fresh breeze blew from the 
north ; the British fleet then bearing north, about 
four or five leagues distant. The vessels of the 
American fleet wore in succession, and haled upon a 
wind on the larboard tack. At sunset, the British 
bore.N. w. by n. on the starboard tack. The wind 
changing towards the westward, the American com- 
modore stood to the northward all night in order to 
gain the north shore. At daybreak he tacked to the 
westward, the wind having then changed to n. n. w. 
Soon after which he discovered the British fleet, 
beaiing s. w. The commodore made all sail in chase 
with the Asp, Madison, and Fair American in tow. 
To his great disappointment, the wind about twelve 
o'clock changed to w. s. w. which again brought the 
British to windward. The commodore tacked to 
the northward ; but at three o'clock, the wind in- 
clining to the north, he wore to south and west, and 
made signal for the fleet to make all sail. At four, 
the British bore s. s. w. The Americans steered 
after them. At five, the former were becalmed under 
the land, while the latter neared them very fast with 
a fine breeze from n. n. w. At six, the Americans 



NAVAL BATTLES. 181 

formed in line within four miles of the British; the 
wind being then very light. At seven the wind chang- 
ed to s. w. blew a fresh breeze. This placed the Brit- 
ish to windward. The American commodore then 
tacked, and haled upon a wind on the larboard tack, 
under easy sail, the British standing after him. At 
nine in the evening, the British were within double 
gun shot -of the rear of the Americans. They then 
wore to the southward. Commodore Chauncey 
stood to the north under easy sail, with his fleet 
formed in two lines : a part of the schooners formed 
the weather line. They were ordered to commence 
the fire upon the British as soon as the shot of the 
'latter should take effect ; and, as they approached, 
to edge down upon the American line to leeward, 
pass through the intervals, and form to leeward. At 
half past ten, the British tacked, and stood after the 
Americans. At eleven o'clock the rear of the Amer- 
ican line opened a brisk fire upon the British, and 
in the course of fifteen minutes the fire became general 
along the weather line of the Americans. At half 
past eleven this line bore up, and passed to leeward, 
except the Growler and Julia. These two vessels 
tacked to the south, which brought the British be- 
tween them and their commodore. The latter filled 
his main-topsail, and edged away two points to lead 
the British down ; this he did in order to engage 
them to greater advantage, and to lead them from 
the Growler and Julia. They however kept their 
wind until they separated these two last mentioned 
veJfels from the rest of the American squadron. As 



182 NAVAL BATTLES. 

they passed the General Pike, a few shots were ex- 
changed witliout doing any injury. While the British 
were in chase of the two schooners, the commodore 
tacked and stood after them until midnight when he 
was forced to give over the pursuit to rejoin his 
squadron, then to leeward. Their line was now 
formed on the starboard tack. The fning continued 
between the two American schooners and the Brit- 
ish fleet until one o'clock, whqn the former were 
captured. Soon after this, the American fleet being 
nearly destitute of provisions, returned to Sackett's 
harbour. 

During a cruise in the early part of September, 
commodore Chauncey fell in with the British fleet 
and chased them all round the lake, when they put 
into Amherst bay, after having received considerable 
injury from the fire of the Americans. This bay 
was so little known to the American pilots, that they 
were unwilling to take the fleet in. Sir James Yeo, 
commander of the British fleet, had a superiority 
over the American commodore, both in guns and 
men. His vessel ^Iso sailed better than the Ameri- 
can. 

Commodore Chauncey blockaded the British fleet 
in Amherst baj- for four days, when the wind blowing 
heavy from the westward, they succeeded in getting 
into Kingston : upon which the commodore returned 
to Sackett's harbour, where he remained only a few 
hours, and on the 18th of September sailed for Niag- 
ara, where he arrived on the 24th. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 183 

Commodore Chauncey having ascertained that the 
British squadron was in York bay, sailed from Niag- 
ara. On the 27th, in the evening, owing to the ex- 
treme darkness of the night a part of his squadron 
separated, and did not join him until next morning. 
On the same day, the British fleet was' discovered 
under way in York bay. The American squadron 
sailed for them with three schooners in taw. But 
on the British perceiving the design of the Ameri- 
cans to engage them, they tacked, and stood out of 
the bay, the wind being then at east. The Ameri- 
can commodore formed his line, and ran' down for 
their centre. As soon, however, as he had approach- 
ed within three miles, they made all sail to the south- 
ward. The vessels of the American squadron wore 
in succession, and stood on the same tack with the 
British, and edged down gradually in order to close. 
At ten, past meridian, the British perceiving the 
Americans closing fast with them, and that they 
must either risk an action, or suffer their two rear 
vessels to be cut off", they tacked in succession, begin- 
ning at the van, hoisted their colours, and commenc- 
ed a well directed fire at the Pike. This they did 
with a view to cover their rear ; and, while passing 
to leeward, to attack the rear of the Americans. 
This com.modore Chauncey frustrated by bearing up 
in succession, with the line preserved, for the centre 
of the British, as soon as their leading ship, the 
Wolfe, had passed the centre of her line, and was 

^am of the American. This manoeuvre not only 
red the American rear, but also threw the Brit- 



# 



184 NAVAL BATTLES. 

ish in confusion. They immediately bore away ; 
but the Americans had closed so near as to be enabled 
to bring their guns to bear with effect, and in twen- 
ty minutes after, the main and mizzen-topmast, and 
the main yard of the British frigate Wolfe, was shot 
away. . This vessel immediately put before the 
wind, with all sail set upon her foremast. The 
American commodore made signal for the fleet to 
crowd all sail in pursuit : but as the Wolfe kept right 
before the wind, she was enabled to outsail the 
American squadron, and experienced no retardment 
from the loss of her main and mizzen-topmast. The 
Americans continued the chase until near three 
o'clock. The Pike, with the Asp in tow, kept with- 
in point blank shot of the British during the chase, 
and sustained the whole of their fire. Prudence for- 
bade any further pursuit on the part of the Americans. 
The Pike was much injured, owing to her being so 
long exposed to the fire of the whole British fleet. 
The most serious injury, however, she received from 
the bursting of a gun, which killed and wounded 
twenty-two men. The Governor Tompkins lost her 
foremast. The American fleet returned to Niagara. 
On the 2d of October, commodore Chauncey again 
proceeded in quest of the British fleet. He discover- 
ed them steering a course for Niagara, with studding 
sails, and all sails set, the wind being from the south 
and westward. The commodore made all sail in 
chase, but as soon as his vessels w^ere discovered by 
the British, they took in studding sails and haled 
upon a wind to the westward, and made all sail IWItti 



"^ 



NAVAL BATTLES. 186 

# the Americans. The wind being light all day, little 
progress was made against the current. By sun 
down, the British were off Twenty Mile Creek, and 
had got a considerable distance from the Americans. 
At daylight, the British were perceived at anchor . 
but as soon as they saw the American squadron, they 
weighed and made all sail to the west. The wind 
was from south to southwest and squally. The 
American commodore made all sail in chase, and 
continued it the whole day. At sundown, the British 
could scarcely be perceived from the mast head of 
the American vessels. On the following morning the 
British fleet was out of sight. Commodore Chauncey 
then steered for the Ducks, with a view of intercept- 
ing the British fleet on its return, should it have gone 
down the lake. The wind increased to a strong 
gale from the northward and westward, and contin- 
ued during the whole day. At three o'clock in the 
afternoon of the 5th, seven sail were discovered near 
the False Ducks. Sail was immediately made m 
chase by the Anjerican commodore, who took them 
for the British fleet. But in the course of an hour 
he ascertained them to be sloops and schooners. Sig- 
nal was made by the commodore for the Sylph and 
Lady of the Lake to cast off" the vessels they had in 
tow, and chase n. e. Soon after this the British 
were perceived separating on different tacks. The 
Governor Tompkins was now cast off by the Pike, 
and the commodore made all sail in chase with 
her, having left the American squadron in charge of 

captain Crane. At five o'clock in the afternoon the 

p 24 

i 



186 NAVAL BATTLES. 

British set fire to one of their gun vessels that did not 
sail well, after having taken out her people. At sun^, 
down, and opposite the Real Ducks, the Hamilton, 
Confiance,* and Mary-Ann, struck to the Americans. 
The Sylph soon after captured the Drummond. The 
Lady Gore ran into the Ducks, but the Sylph beii 
left to watch her, she was captured early the m 
morning. The only British vessel that escaped was 
the Enterprise, a small schooner. The British 
vessels captured were three gun vessels mounting 
from one to three guns each. They were trans- 
porting troops to Kingston. The number of prison- 
ers amounted to two hundred and sixty-four, of 
whom two hundred and twenty-two were soldiers. 
The American fleet immediately after this affair, re 
turned to Sackett's harbour.f 

* The Hamilton and Confiance; these two vessels had not 
long been captured from the Americans, as aheady related, and 
had been in the American service called the Growler and Julia. 

t Clark's NavaJ History, vol. i. n. 222—232 



NAVAL BATTLES. 187 



EVENTS ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. 

During the summer of the year 1812, prepara- 
tions were made on lake Champlain to oppose the 
naval force that might be sent by the British from 
Isle-au-Noix. 

Nothing very interesting occurred until the 3d of 
June, 1813. In consequence of some British gun 
boats having appeared on the American side of the 
line, the Growler and Eagle sailed from Plattsburgh 
on the 2d of June, under the command of lieuten- 
ant Smith, with the intention of attacking them. 
At dark on the same day, they arrived within a mile 
of the boundary line. On the following morning, at 
daybreak, three British gun boats were discovered, 
to which the American vessels immediately gave 
chase. But the wind being south, they unfortu- 
nately ran so far into the narrow channel, that they 
found it difficult to return. The Eagle not being 
sufficiently strong for her weight of metal, became 
unrnanageable, and sunk in shoal water ; her crew 
were however saved. The Growler continued en- 
gaged with a number of British gun boats until the 
Eagle went down, when she was compelled to yield 
to a superior force ; the action continued above four ' 
hours. The shores were lined with British soldiers 
who from the narrowness of the channel were ena- 
bled to do considerable execution. 



nr-- 



188 NAVAL BATTLES. 

About the commencement of August the British 
in two large sloops of war, three gun boats, and about 
forty batteaux full of troops crossed the line. They 
landed at Plattsburgh, where they destroyed all the 
public buildings and stores. After which they aban- 
doned the place. 

The American naval force on lake Champlain con- 
sisted on the 20th of August of 

Guns. 

The President 12 

Commodore Preble 11 

Montgomery ' 11 

Frances 6 

Two gun boats, one 18 pounder each 2 

Six scows, one 12 pounder each 6 

48 
In the month of September, commodore Macd en- 
ough sailed from Burlington, to the lines, and offer- 
ed the British battle; this they refused, and sailed 
out of the lake to the northward.* 



BATTLE OF PLATTSBURGH. 

Gn the 31st of August 1814, the advance of the 
British army under general Brisbane, entered Cham- 
plain, and encamped on the north side of the Great 
Ghazy river, and on the same day major general 
* Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 232, 233. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 189 

Mooers ordered out the militia of the counties of 
Clinton and Essex. The regiment from Clinton 
county, under lieutenant-colonel Miller, immediately 
assembled, and on the 2d September took a position on 
the west road near the village of Chazy ; and on the 
3d general Wright with such of his brigade as had 
arrived, occupied a position on the same road about 
eight miles in advance of Plattsburgh. On the 4th 
the enemy having brought up his main body to Cham- 
plain, took up his line of march for that place. The 
rifle corps under lieutenant-colonel* Appling, on the 
lake road, fell back as far as Dead Creek, blocking 
up the road in such manner as to impede the advance 
of the enemy as much as possible. The enemy ad- 
vanced on the 5th within a few miles of lieutenant- 
colonel Appling's position, and finding it too strong 
to attack, halted and caused a road to be made west 
into the Beekmantown road, in which the light bri- 
gade under general Powers advanced, and on the 
morning of the 6th, about seven o'clock, attacked 
the militia, which had at this time increased to near- 
ly seven hundred, under general Mooers, and a small 
detachment of regulars under major Wool, about se- 
ven miles from Plattsburgh. After the first fire, a 
considerable part of the militia broke and fled in 
every direction. Many, however, manfully stood 
their ground, and, with the small corps of major Wool, 
bravely contested the ground, against five times their 
number, falling back gradually and occupying the 
fences on each side the road, till they arrived within 
a mile of the town, when they were reinforced by^ 



190 NAVAL BATTLES. 

two pieces of artillery, under captain Leonard, and 
our troops occupying a strong position behind a stone 
wall, for some time stopped the progress of the 
enemy: being at length compelled to retire, they 
contested every inch of ground until they reached 
the south bank of the Saranac, where the enemy at- 
tempted to pursue them but was repulsed with loss. 
The loss of the British in this skirmish was colonel 
Wellington and a lieutenant of the third Buffs, and 
two lieutenants of the fifty-eighth killed, and one cap- 
tain and one lieutenant of the fifty-eighth light com- 
pany wounded, together with about one hundred pri- 
vates killed and wounded ; while that on our part did 
not exceed twenty-five. The corps of riflemen un- 
der colonel Appling, and detachment under captain 
Sproul, fell back from their position at Dead Creek 
in time to join the militia, &c. just before they en- 
tered the village, and fought with their accustomed 
bravery. The British got possession of that part of 
the village north of the Saranac about eleven o'clock, 
but the incessant and well directed fire of our artillery 
and musketry from the forts and opposite bank com- 
pelled them to retire before night beyond the reach 
of our guns. The enemy arrived towards night with 
his heavy artillery and baggage on the lake road and 
crossed the beach, where he met with a warm re- 
ception from our row-galleys, and it is believed suf- 
fered a heavy loss in killed and wounded. On our 
side, lieutenant Duncan, of the navy, lost an arm by 
,a rocket and three or four men were killed by the 
enemy's artillery. The enemy encamped on the 



NAVAL BATTLES. 191 

ridge west of the town, his right near the river, and 
occupying an extent of nearly three miles, his left 
resting on the lake about a mile north of the village. 
From the 6th, until the morning of the 11th, an al- 
most continual skirmishing was kept up between the 
enemy's pickets and our militia stationed on the ri- 
ver ; and in the mean time both armies were busily 
engaged — ours in strengthening the works of the 
forts, and that of the . enemy in erecting batteries, 
^collecting ladders, bringing up his heavy ordnance, 
and making other preparations for attacking the fort. 
On the morning of the 7th, a body of the enemy 
under captain Noadie, attempted to cross at the up- 
per bridge, about seven miles west of Plattsburgh, 
but were met by captain Vaughan's company of 
about twenty-five men, and compelled to retire with 
the loss of two killed and several wounded. On the 
morning of the 11th, the enemy's fleet came round 
the head with a light breeze from the north, and at- 
tacked ours, which lay at anchor in Cumberland bay, 
two miles from the shore, east of the fort. The ac- 
tion was long and bloody, but decisive ; and the 
event such as we believe it will always be (except by 
accident) when our navy cfintends with any thing 
like an equal force. The enemy commenced a simul- 
taneous bombardment of our works from seven bat- 
teries, from which several hundred shells and rockets 
were discharged, which did us very little inju^ry, and 
our artillery had nearly succeeded in silencing all 
before the contest on the lake was decided. The 
enemy attempted at the same time to throw his main 



* 



192 NAVAL BATTLES 

body in rear of the fort, by crossing the river three 
oiiles west of the town, near the scite of Pike's can- 
tonment. He succeeded in crossing, after a brave 
resistance by the Essex militia and a few of the Ver- 
mont volunteers, in all about three hundred and fifty, 
stationed at that place, who retired back a mile and a 
half from the river, -continually pouring in upon them 
an incessant fire from behind every tree, until lieuten- 
ant Sumpter brought up a piece of artillery to their 
support, when the enemy commenced a precipitate 
retreat. The Vermont volunteers, who had hasten- 
ed to the scene of action on the first alarm, fell 
upon the enemy's left flank and succeeded in making 
many prisoners, including three officers. Had the 
British remained on the south side of the river thir- 
ty minutes longer, they must have lost nearly the 
whole detachment that crossed. Our loss in this af- 
fair was five killed and eight or ten wounded, some 
mortally. Immediately on ascertaining the loss of 
the fleet. Sir George Prevost ordered preparations 
to be made for the retreat of the army, and set off* 
himself with a small escort, for Canada, a little after 
noon. The main body of the enemy, with the ar- 
tillery and baggage, were» taken off in -the afternoon 
and night, and the rear guard, consisting of the light 
brigade, started at daybreak, and made a precipitate 
retreat, leaving their wounded and a large quantity 
of provisions, fixed ammunition, shot,* shells and 
other public stores in the diflferent places of deposit 
about their camp. They were pursued some distance 
by our troops, and many prisoners taken ; but owing. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 193 

to the very heavy and incessant rain, we were com- 
pelled to return. The enemy lost, upon land, more 
than two thousand men in killed, wounded, prisoners 
and deserters ; while our aggregate loss did not ex- 
ceed one hundred and fifty.* 

In September, 1814, commodore Macdonough 
succeeded in capturing the British fleet, the particu- 
lars of which will be best related in his letter to the 
secretary of the navy, which follows. 

United States ship Saratoga, Plattsburgh Bay, September 
13, 1814. 

Sir, — I have the honour to give you the particu- 
lars of the action which took place on the 11th in- 
stant on this lake. 

For several days the enemy were on their way, to 
Plattsburgh by land and water ; and it being, well 
understood that an attack would be made at the same 
time by their land and naval forces, I determined to 
await at anchor the approach of the latter. 

At eight, A. M. the look-out boat announced the 
approach of the enemy. At nine he anchored in a 
line ahead, at about three hundred yards distance 
from my line ; his ship opposed to the Saratoga, his 
brig to the Eagle, captain Robert Henley, his galley 
(thirteen in number) to the schooner, sloop, and a 
division of our galleys. Our remaining galleys with 
the Saratoga and Eagle. 

In this situation, the whole force on both sides 

became engaged ;^ the Saratoga suffered much from 

* Sketches of the War, p 405 — 407 
t^ 25 



194 NAVAL BATTLES. 

the licavj fire of the Coiifiance : I could perceive, at 
the same time, however, that our fixe \vas very de- 
structive to her. The Ticonderoga, lieutenant-comr 
maudant Cassiu, gallantly sustained her lull share 
of the action. At half past ten o/clock, the Eagle, 
not heing able to bi'ing her guns to bear, cut her ca- 
ble and anchored in a more eligible position, between 
mv ship and the Ticonderoga, where she very much 
annovcd the cnemv, but unfortunately leaving me 
exposed to a galling fne from the enemy's brig. Our 
gims on the starboard side, being nearly all dismount- 
ed, or not manageable, a stern anchor was let go, 
the bower cable cut, and the ship winded with a 
fresh broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon af- 
ter surrendered. Our broadside was then sprung 
to bear on the brig, which, surrendered in about fif- 
teen minutes after. 

The sloop that was opposed to the Eagle, had 
struck some time before, and drifted down the line ; 
the sloop which was with their galleys having struck 
also. Three of their galleys are said to be sunk, 
and the others pulled olf. Our galleys were about 
obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them, when 
all the vessels were reported to me to be in a sinking 
state : it then became necessar}^ to annul the signal 
to the galleys, and order their men to the pumps. 

I could only look at the enemy's galleys going oft' in 
a shattered condition, for there was not a mast in eith- 
er squadron that could stand to make sail on ; the 
lower rigging, being nearly all shot away, hung down 
as though it had been just placed over the mast heads. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 195 

The Saratoga had fifty five round shot in her hull ; 
the Confiance one hundred and five. The enemy's 
shot passed principally just over our heads, as there 
were not twenty whole hammocks in the nettings at 
the close of the action, which lasted, without inter- 
mission, two hours and twenty minutes. 

The absence and sickness of lieutenant Raymond 
Perry, left me without the services of that excellent 
officer; much ought fairly to be attributed to him 
for his great care and attention in disciplining the 
ship's crew, as her first lieutenant. His place was 
filled by a gallant young officer, lieutenant Peter 
Gamble, who, I regret to inform you, was killed 
early in the action. Acting lieutenant Valette work- 
ed the 1st and 2d divisions, of guns with able effect. 
Sailing-master Brum's attention to the springs, and 
in the execution of the order to wind the ship, and 
occasionally at the guns, meets my entire approba- 
tion ; also captain Young, commanding the acting 
marines, who took his men to the guns. Mr. Beale, 
purser, was of great service at the guns, and in car- 
rying my orders throughout the ship, with Midship- 
man Montgomery. Master's mate Joshua Justin, 
had command of the 3d division ; his conduct during 
the action, was that of a brave and correct officer. 
Midshipmen Monteath, Graham, Williamson, Piatt, 
Thwing, and acting midshipman Baldwin, all behav- 
ed well, and gave evidence of their making valuable 
officers. 

The Saratoga was twice set on fire by hot shot 
from the enemy's ship. 



196 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



I close, sir, this communication with feelings ot 
gratitude for the able support I received from every 
officer and man attached to the squadron which I 
have the honour to command. 

I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, 
your most obedient servant, 

T. MACDONOUGH. 

Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the IVavy. 

The following is a comparative view of the force 
and loss of the British and American fleets : 
BRITISH. 



Guns. Men. 

Large ship, 39 300 

Brig Linnet, 16 120 

Sloop, formerly Growler, 11 40 

Sloop, do. Eagle, 11 40 

13Gunboats,t 18 '550 



Killed.* Wounded. 



50 
20 

6 

8 



60 
30 
10 
10 



Total, 95 1050 
AMERICAN. 



84 110 



Guns. Men. ' Killed. Wounded 

Saratoga, ship, 26 210 28 29 

Eagle, brig, 20 120 13 20 

Ticonderoga, sch'r. 17 110 6 6 

Preble, sloop, 7 30 2 

10 Gun boats, 16 350 3 3 



Total, 



86 



820 



52 



58 



* This is a statement of what were found on board the British 
vessels. Many were thrown overboard during the action; and it 
was supposed the whole number of killed and wounded amount- 
ed to two hundred and sixty. 

t Two probably sunk. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 197 

The British officers killed, were commodore Dow- 
ney, and three lieutenants. The American officers 
killed, were lieutenants Gamble and Stansbury ; the 
latter of whom was knocked overboard and not 
found. Commodore Macdonough escaped without 
injury. 

The British officers taken were captain Bring and 
six or eight lieutenants. The wounded were parol- 
ed and sent by a flag to the Isle-au-Noix. 

The British large ship proved to be a very fine 
vessel of her class, having two gun decks in her bow 
and stern, and mounting, among her guns, twenty- 
eight long twenty-four pounders, a battery which few 
frigates of the British navy can boast. 

On the 13th of September, the interment of the 
American and British officers, who fell in the memo- 
rable battle of the 11th, took place at Plattsburgh, 
in a manner to do honour to the bravery with which 
they defended they respective flags. The coffins of 
the American officers, covered with the flags of their 
vessels, were taken on board a boat from the com- 
modore's ship and followed by him and his offi- 
cers, in another boat, to the British ship, where they 
took on board the deceased British officers, covered 
with the flags of their own vessels, and proceeded 
to the shore, followed by their surviving officers, 
During the procession, minute guns were fired from 
the commodore's ship. 

At the land they were received by an escort of 
infantry dhd artillery, and joined by a large number 
of the officers of the army ; and while they proceed- 



ATTACK ON BALTIMORE, 

On Saturday the 10th of September, information 
was received that the enemy was ascending the 
Chesapeake, and on Sunday morning his ships were 
seen at the mouth of the Patapsco river, (which com- 
municates with the basin on which Baltimore stands) 
in number to forty to fifty. Some of his vessels en- 



198 NAVAL BATTLES. 

ed to the public burying ground, minute guns. were 
also fired from the fort. At the grave, a discharge 
of musketry and artillery closed the scene. 

The following amount of property was said to have « 
been taken from on board the enemy's fleet, at the 
time of, and subsequent to its capture : — seventeen 
thousand weight of powder, exclusive of fixed am- 
munition for the ships ; between eighty and ninety 
thousand weight of balls, &c. ; six hundred muskets ; 
six hundred suits of sailor's clothing ; and the winter 
clothing for the whole of the land army. 

In the beginning of November, six tons of eight 
inch shells were taken out of the lake at Chazy by 
the Americans, which had been secreted by the ene- 
my in his incursion. A transport sloop was also 
raised at Isle la Mott, which had been sunk by the 
enemy, loaded with naval stores and various instru- 
ments of war 



NAVAL BATTLES. 199 

tered the river, while others proceeded to North 
Point, (at the mouth of the Patapsco,) fourteen miles 
from Baltimore, and commenced the debarkation of 
their troops in the night, and was finished early next 
morning. The following extracts of a letter from 
general Smith to the secretary of war, gives an ac- 
count of the events which followed : 

" Baltimore, September 19, 1814 

*' I HAVE the honour of stating, that the enemy 
landed between seven and eight thousand men on 
Monday the 10th instant, at North Point, fourteen 
miles distant from this town. Anticipating this de- 
barkation, general Strieker had been detached on 
Sunday evening with a portion of his brigade on the 
North Point road. Major Randel, of the Baltimore 
county militia, having under his command a light 
corps of riflemen and musketry taken from general 
Stanbury's brigade and Pennsylvania volunteers, was 
detached to the mouth of Bear Creek, with orders to 
co-operate with general Strieker, and to check any 
landing which the enemy might attempt in that quar- 
ter. On Monday, brigadier general Strieker took a 
good position at the junction of the two roads leading 
from this place to North Point, having his right 
flanked by Bear Creek, and his left by a marsh. 
He here awaited the approach of the enemy, having 
sent on an advance corps under the command of 
■ major Heath of the 5th regiment. This advance 
was met by that of the enemy, and after some skir- 
mishing it returned to the line, the main body of the 



200 NAVAL BATTLES. 

enemy being at a short distance in the rear of their 
advance. Between two and three o'clock, the ene- 
my's whole force came up and commenced battle by 
some discharges of rockets, which were succeeded by 
the cannon from both sides, and soon after the action 
became general along the line. General Strieker 
gallantly maintained his ground against a great supe- 
riority of numbers during the space of an hour and 
twenty minutes, when the regiment on his left (the 
fifty-first) giving way, he was under the necessity of 
retiring to the ground in his rear, where he had sta- 
tioned one regiment as a reserve. He here formed 
his brigade ; but the enemy not thinking it advisable 
to pursue, he, in compliance with previous arrange- 
jnents, fell back and took post on the left of my in- 
trenchments, and a half mile in advance of them. 

*' In this affair the citizen soldiers of Baltimore, 
with the exception of the fifty-first regiment, have 
maintained the reputation they so deservedly acquir- 
ed at Bladensburg, and have given their country and 
their city a'n assurance of what may be expected 
from them when their services are again required. I 
cannot dismiss the subject without expressing the 
heartfelt satisfaction I experience in thus bearing 
testimony to the courage and good conduct of my 
fellow townsmen. About the time general Strieker 
had taken the ground just ment oned, he was joined 
by brigadier general Winder, who had been stationed 
on the west side of the city, but was now ordered 
to march with general Douglass' brigade of Virginia 
militia and the United States dragoons under captaia 



NAVAL BATTLES. 201 

Bird, and take post on the left of general Strieker. 
During these movements, the brigades of generals 
Stansbury and Foreman, the seamen and marines 
under commodore Rodgers, the Pennsylvania volun- 
teers under colonels Corbeau and Findley, the Balti- 
more artillery under colonel Harris, and the mari'^e 
artillery under captain Stiles, manned the trenches 
and the batteries — all prepared to receive the enemy. 
We remained in this situation during the night. 

" On Tuesday, the enemy appeared in front of my 
intrenchments, at the distance of two miles, on the 
Philadelphia road, from whence he had a full view of 
our position. He manoeuvred during the morning 
towards our left, as if with the intention of making 
a circuitous march, and coming down on the Hart- 
ford and York roads. Generals Winder and Strieker 
were ordered to adapt their movements to those of 
the enemy, so as to baffle this supposed intention. 
They executed this order with great skill and judg- 
ment, by taking an advantageous position, stretching 
from my left across the country, when the enemy 
was likely to approach the quarter he seemed to 
threaten. This movement induced the enemy to 
concentrate his forces (between one and two o'clock) 
in my front, pushing his advance to within a mile o 
us, driving in oui videttes, and showing an intention 
of attacking us that everiing. I immediately drew 
generals Winder and Strieker nearer to the left of 
my intrenchments, and to the right of the enemy, 
with the intention of their falling on his right or rear, 

should he attack me ; or if he declinfed it, of attack- 
26 



202 NAVAL BATTLES. 

ing him in the morning. To this movement and to 
the strength of my defences, which the enemy had 
the fairest opportunity of observing, I am induced to 
attribute his retreat, which commenced at half past 
one o'clock on Wednesday morning. In this he was 
so favoured by the extreme darkness and a continued 
rain, that we did not discover it until daylight. I 
consented to general Winder's pursuing with the Vir- 
ginia brigade and the United States dragoons ; at 
the same time major Randal was despatched with his 
light corps in pursuit of the enemy's right, whilst the 
whole of the militia cavalry was put in motion for 
the same object. All the troops were, however, so 
worn out with continued watching, and with being 
under arms during three days and nights, exposed the 
greater part of the time to very inclement weather, 
that it was found impracticable to do any thing more 
than pick up a few stragglers. The enemy com- 
menced his embarkation that evening, and completed 
it the next day at one o'clock. It would have been 
impossible, even had our troops been in a condition 
to act offensively, to have cut off any part of the 
enemy's rear guard during the embarkation, as the 
point where it was effected was defended from our 
approach by a line of defences extending from Back 
river to Humphrey's Creek on the Patapsco, thrown 
up by ourselves previous to their arrival. 

" I have now the pleasure of calling your atten- 
tion to the brave commander of fort M'Henry* major 
Armstead, and to the operations confined to that 
* Fort M'Henry is about two miles from the city of Baltimore. 



;^>^ NAVAL BATTLES. 203 

quarter. The enemy made his approach by water 
at the same time that his army was advancing on the 
land, and commenced a discharge of bombs and rock- 
ets at the fort as soon as he got within range of it. 
The situation of major Armstead was peculiarly 
trying — ^the enemy having taken his position at 5uch 
a distance as to render offensive operations on the 
part of the fort entirely fruitless, while their bombs 
and rockets were every moment falling in and about 
it — the officers and men being at the same time en- 
tirely exposed. The vessels, however, had the temer- 
ity to approach somewhat nearer — they were as 
soon compelled to withdraw. During the night, 
whilst the enemy on land was retreating, and whilst 
the bombardment was the most severe, two or three 
rocket vessels and barges succeeded in getting up 
the Ferry Branch ; but they were soon compelled to 
retire, by the forts in that quarter- commanded by 
lieutenant Newcomb of the navy, and lieutenant 
Webster of the flotilla. These forts also destroyed 
one of the barges, with all on board. The barges 
and battery at the Lazaretto, under the command of 
lieutenant Rutter of the flotilla, kept up a brisk and 
it is believed a successful fire during the hottest period 
of the bombardment. The loss in fort M'Henry was 
four killed and twenty-four wounded, amongst the 
former I have to lament the fall of lieutenants Cla- 
gett and Clamm, who were both estimable citizens 
and useful officers. 

Of general Strieker's brigade, the number of killed 
and wounded amounts to about one hundred and fifty 



204> NAVAL BATTLES. 

among the former this city has to regret the loss 
bf its representative in the state legislature, James 
Lowry Donaldson, esquire, adjutant of the twenty- 
seventh regiment. This gentleman will ever be re- 
membered by his constituents for his zeal and talents, 
and by his corps for his bravery and military know- 
ledge. 

" I cannot conclude this report without informing 
you of the great aid I have derived from commodore 
Rodgers. He was ever present and ever ready to 
afford his useful counsel, and to render his important 
services. His presence, with that of his gallant offi- 
cers and seamen, gave confidence to every one. 

" The enemy's loss, in his attempt on Baltimore, 
amounts, as near as we can ascertain, to between six 
and seven hundred killed, wounded and missing." 



BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS. 

On the 27th DecembeF 1814, general Jackson ai 
rived at New Orleans with his army, where he im- 
mediately began the inspection of the different forts 
and works down the Mississippi river. On the 
morning of the 1st of January, the enemy had ad- 
vanced within six hundred yards of our breast-works, 
under cover of night and a heavy fog, and erected 
three different batteries, mounting in all fifteen guns, 



NAVAL BATTLES. 205 

from 6's to 32's. About eight o'clock, when the fog 
cleared off, they commenced a most tremendous fire, 
which was amply returned by our men, and a heavy 
cannonading was kept up, without the least interval 
on either side, except that occasioned by the explo- 
sion of two small magazines, owing to their con- 
greve rockets. At four o'clock, p. m. we had dis- 
mounted all their guns but two. During the night 
the enemy retreated to their strong holds, about a 
mile and a quarter from our lines. Our loss was 
eleven killed and twenty-three wounded : that of 
the enemy must have been much more. A 32 pound- 
er from a battery commanded by commodore Pat- 
terson, killed fifteen at one shot. The Louisiana this 
day fired seven hundred shot. 

On the 2d of January, general Jackson received 
at New Orleans and its vicinity, reinforcements from 
Kentucky and Tennessee, amounting to three or four 
thousand, which, with his former force, gave him an 
army of between seven and eight thousand, of whom 
not more, however, than one half were armed. In 
consequence of the great number of men arriving 
with their arms in bad order, and of the scarcity of 
good muskets with bayonets, four companies of Unit- 
ed States troops gave up theirs, amounting to about 
five hundred, to arm the men at the camp, and armed 
themselves with fowling pieces and pikes. 

On the 6th of January sailing-master Johnson of 
the United States navy, with a launch and three 
small boats, manned with thirty-eight men, succeed- 
ed in burning a British transport brig on Lake 



206 NAVAL BATTLES. 

Borgne, and in capturing a number of prisoners. 
The brig was laden with provisions and clothing. 
On the same ^ay, twenty-one sail of British vessels 
arrived off Cat island, upon the coast opposite the 
bay of St. Louis, with a large reinforcement of troops, 
commanded by general Lambert. On the 7th, these 
troops were disembarked at the bayou Bienvenu : 
and lieutenant-general sir Edward Pakenham, (broth- 
er-in-law of lord Wellington) assumed command of 
the whole British army, amounting to twelve thou- 
sand men. 

For two or three days previous to this, part of the 
forces of the enemy had beep employed in preparing 
scaling ladders and collecting fascines (made of su- 
gar canes) for their intended assault upon our lines ; 
while others were widening and deepening the canal 
which leads from the bayou Bienvenu towards the 
Mississippi, and which, on the evening of the 7th, 
was cut through to admit the river. Through this 
canal they floated or dragged twenty-four of their 
smaller boats, containing twenty-five men each, and 
thus transported about six hundred men to the op- 
posite side of the river. Some distance above the 
spot where they landed, two batteries had been con- 
structed and placed under the direction of commo- 
dore Patterson. The enemy's troops which had thus 
crossed, were intended to attack the commodore's 
batteries and create a diversion on that side of the 
river, while the main attack was carried on on the 
other side. Accordingly on the morning of the 8th, 
they silently drew out a large force to storm our 



NAVAL BATTLES. 207 

lines, their columns advancing unperceived in the ob- 
scurity of the morning, to within about half a mile 
of our camp, where they met and drove in our piquet 
guard. About day-break they advanced with great 
vivacity to the entrenchment, led gallantly on by 
their officers ; when the intrepid Jackson and his 
brave men opened a most tremendous and deadly 
fire upon them from our works, which ended in 
a dreadful slaughter and total defeat of the enemy. 
General Jackson officially reports to the secretary 
at war an account of this battle in the following 
words : — 

4 

Camo, 4 miles below Orleans, January 9, 1815 

Sir, — During the days of the 6th and 7th, the 
enemy had been actively employed in making prepar- 
ations for an attack on my lines. With infinitje la- 
bour they had succeeded on the night of the 6th in 
getting their boats across the lake to the river, by 
widening and deepening the canal on which they had 
effected their disembarkation. It had not been in 
my power to impede these operations by a general 
attack ; added to other reasons, the nature of the 
troops undet my command, mostly militia, rendered 
it too hazardous to attempt extensive offensive move- 
ments in an open country, against a numerous and 
well disciplined army. Although- my forces, as to 
number, had been increased by the arrival of the 
Kentucky division, my strength had received very 
little addition ; a small portion only of that detach- 
ment being provided with arms. Compelled thus to 



208 NAVAL BATTLES. 

wait the attack of the enemy, 1 took every measure e 
to repel it when it should be. made, and to defeat the a 
object he had in view. General Morgan with the 
Orleans contingent, the Louisiana militia and a strong 5 
detachment of the Kentucky troops, occupied an in- 
trenched camp on the opposite side of the river, pro- 
tected by strong batteries on the bank, erected and 
superintended by commodore Patterson. 

In my encampment every thing was ready for ac- 
tion, when, early on the morning of the 8th, the ene- 
my after throwing a heavy shower of bombs and 
congreve rockets, advanced their columns on my 
right and left, to storm my intrenchments. I cannot 
speak sufficiently in praise of the firmness and delib- 
eration with which the whole line received their ap- 
proach — more could not have been expected from 
veterans inured to war. — For an hour, the fire of the 
small arms was as incessant and severe as can be 
imagined. The artillery, -too, directed by officers 
who displayed equal skill and courage, did great ex 
ecution. Yet the columns of the enemy continued to 
advance with a firmness which reflects the greatest 
credit. Twice the column which approached me on 
my left, was repulsed by the troops of general Car 
roll, those of general Coffee, and a division of the 
Kentucky militia, and twice they formed again and 
renewed the assault. At length, however, cut to 
pieces, they fled in confusion, from the field, leaving 
it covered with their dead and wounded. 

The loss which the enemy sustained on this occa 
sion, cannot be estimated at less than fifteen hundred 



1 



NAVAL BATTLES. 209 

in killed, wounded and prisoners. Upwards of three 
hundred have already been delivered over for burial ; 
and my men are still engaged in picking them up 
within my lines and carrying them to the point where 
the enemy are to receive them. — This is an addition 
to the dead and wounded whom the enemy have been 
enabled to carry from the field, during, and since the 
action, and to those who have since died of the 
wounds they received. We have taken about five 
hundred prisoners, upwards of three hundred of whom 
are wounded, and a great part of them mortally. 
My loss has not exceeded, and I believe has not 
amounted to ten killed and as many wounded. The 
entire destruction of the enemy's army was now inevi- 
table had it not been for an unfortunate occurrence 
which at this moment took place on the other side of 
the river. Simultaneously with his advance upon my 
lines, he had thrown over in his boats a considerable 
force to the other side of the river. This having 
landed, was hardly enough to advance against the 
works of general Morgan ; and, what is strange and 
difficult to account for, at the very moment when its 
entire discomfiture was looked for with a confidence 
approaching to certainty, the Kentucky reinforce- 
ments, in whom so much reliance had been placed, 
ingloriously fled, drawing after them by their exam- 
ple, the remainder of the forces ; and thus yielded to 
the enemy that most fortunate position. The bat- 
teries which had rendered me, for many days, the 
most import service, though bravely defended, were 

27 



210 NAVAL BATTLES. 

of course now abandoned ; not, however, until ^ the 
guns had been spiked. 

This unfortunate route had totally changed the as- 
pect of affairs. The enemy now occupied a position 
from which they might annoy us without hazard, 
and by means of which they juight have been en- 
abled to defeat, in a great measure, the effects of 
our success on this side the river. It became there- 
fore an object of the first consequence to ditslodge 
him as soon as possible. For- this object, all the 
means in my power, which I could with any safety 
use, were immediately put in preparation. . Perhaps, 
however, it was owing somewhat to another cause 
that I succeeded even beyond my expectations. In 
negotiating the terms of a temporary suspension of 
hostilities to enable4he enemy to bury their dead and 
provide for their wounded, I had required certain 
propositions to be acceded to as a basis ; among 
which this was one — that although hostilities should 
cease on this side the river until twelve o'clock of 
this day, yet it was not to be understood that they 
should cease on the other side ; but that no reinforce- 
ments should be sent across by either army until the 
expiration of that day. His excellency Maj. Gen. 
Lambert begged time to consider of these proposi- 
tions until ten o'clock of to-day, and in the meantime 
recrossed his troops. I need not tell you with how 
much eagerness I immediately regained possession 
of the position he had thus hastily quitted. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 211 

In a subsequent letter, general Jackson states the 
loss of the enemy to have been much greater than 
what he at first computed. Upon information which 
was believed to be correct, colonel Hajnes re- 
ported it to have been in total two thousand six 
hundred, viz. seven hundred killed, fourteen hundred 
wounded, and five hundred prisoners, including one 
major, four captains, eleven lieutenants, and one en- 
sign, who were among the latter. The American 
loss on both sides of the Mississippi was thirteen 
killed, thirty-nine wounded, and nineteen missing — 
total seventy-one. Of this number six were killed 
and seven wounded in the action on the eastern bank 
of the river, and the residue in a sortie after the ac- 
tion and in the action on the western bank. Among 
the British officers killed were Sir Edward Paken- 
ham, lieutenant-general and commander in chief, 
(cut asunder by a cannon ball) major-general Gibbs, 
colonel Raynor, majors Pringle, Whitaker and Wilk- 
inson. Among their wounded was major-general 
Keane, severelv. 

Numerous accounts official as well as unofficial, 
represent this battle to have been the greatest ever 
fought on the American continent. For disparity of 
loss a parallel can scarcely be found in ancient or 
modern. history. So determined were the enemy to 
carry our works that many came up to the very 
muzzles of our guns, and some penetrated into our 
lines, where they were either killed or taken prison- 
ers. Many fell mounting the breast-works ; otherf 
were slain upon the works ; and the ditch in front 



WL 



212 NAVAL BATTLES. 

was, in many places, literally filled with dead and 
wounded. The roar of artillery from our lines was 
incessant, while an unintermitted rolling fire was 
kept up from our muskets. The atmosphere was 
filled with sheets of fire and volumes of smoke. For 
an hour and a quarter the enemy obstinately con 
tinned the assault ; fresh men constantly arriving to 
fill up their lines thinned by our fire. Their deter- 
mined perseverance and steady valour, were worthy 
of a better cause ; nor did their troops falter, until 
almost all the officers who had lead them to the at- 
tack had fallen. At one time, a body of the enemy 
succeeded in gaining possession of a bastion on our 
right with three pieces of cannon in it ; but so de- 
structive was our fire, that every man who entered 
was either killed by our riflemen or disabled before 
they could spike the guns. Our men soon returned 
to the charge and regained the bastion. So intent 
Avere the enemy in getting over our works, that they 
pulled off their shoes for the purpose of climbing 
them ; but nearly all who made the attempt were 
either killed or taken prisoners. 

The guns of commodore Patterson's batteries^ on 
the opposite side, of the river, did great execution, 
until the retreat of the Kentucky troops, who had 
been posted hear them. The commodore, /mding 
himself thus deserted, was compelled, \vith a handful 
of brave men, to retire, after spiking his guns. The 
British afterwards burnt the gun carriages, being 
foiled in their expectations of using the guns to an- 
noy our troops on the opposite shore. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 213 

Previous to the battle of the 8th of January, the 
pirates of Barataria, who had been held in custody, 
were released by order of general Jackson, upon condi- 
tion that they would assist in defending the city of 
New-Orleans. In the battle of that day they proved 
themselves excellent artillerists, and were, together 
with a few Frenchmen, successfully employed in 
serving the pieces. They were afterwards released 
from any further confinement, having received (at 
the request of the general assembly of Louisiana) a 
full pardon from the president of the United States. 

Soon after the battle, the enemy sent in a flag of 
truce, and twenty-four hours were allowed them to 
remove and bury their dead. In one small spot alone, 
on the left of our lines, they found three hundred and 
sixty-eight dead bodies. In the course of the day 
forty carts and ten boats arrived at New Orleans, 
loaded with wounded prisoners, who were put into 
the barracks, which were converted into temporary 
hospitals ; about one hundred and fifty unwounded 
prisoners were also put in confinement. — To the 
wounded every attention was paid by the citizens * 
the nuns of the convent took the glorious lead. They 
under the immediate superintendance of the Abbe 
Douburg, threw open their doors and converted all 
their houses, separated from their main building, into 
a hospital, where they themselves, at their own ex- 
pense, and with their own hands, took care of the 
sick and wounded. The ladies of Wew'-Orieans 
were also employed in the same charitable acts ol 
benevolence, as likewise in making clothes for our 



214 NAVAL BATTLES. 

soldiers. The future historian will delight to con- 
trast the destroying and brilliant virtues of the one 
sex, with the preserving and not less attracting vir- 
tues of the other. 

Immediately after their repulse, the enemy com- 
menced active operations for a re-embarkation of their 
troops. Nearly the whole of the sick and wounded 
were sent on board their vessels, together with such 
baggage and munitions of war as could be safely 
spared. During these operations, the enemy kept up 
a menacing attitude — frequent indications were given 
of an intention to renew the attack on our lines, and 
vigorous works of defence were thrown up in front 
of our camp. The rear of their army retired first, 
while they displayed a numerous body of men to the 
view of our troops, and, at night their fires seemed 
rather to increase than diminish. They had erected 
batteries to cover their retreat, in advantageous posi- 
tions, from their original encampment, to the bayou 
through which they entered lake Borgne. The 
cannon placed on these batteries would have raked 
a pursuing army in every direction, and any attempt 
to storm them would have been attended with very 
great slaughter. Having made the necessary ar- 
rangements, the whole British army precipitately 
retreated on the night of the 18th of January ; an 
account of which was officially given by general 
Jackson to the secretary of war. 

The enetiy's loss after decampment, and on ship- 
board, (including about three hundred drowned while 



NAVAL BATTLES. 215 

« 

passing to and from their shipping,) amount to four 
thousand eight hundred.* 

The American loss in the several ^-engagements, 
was fifty-five killed, one hundred and eighty-five 
wounded, and ninety- three missing — total, three 
hundred and thirty-three. Of our forces actually 
engaged (including marines as well as land troops) 
the following is a correct statement : — In the action 
of the 28th of December, three thousand two hundred 
and eighty-two ; 1st of January, three thousand nine 
hundred and sixty-one ; 8th of January, four thousand 
six hundred and ninety-eight. The enemy's force 
previous to the 6th of January, was nine thousand ; 
after that time it was increased to twelve thousand. 



CRUISE OF THE PRESIDENT. 

On the 18th February, 1814, commodore Rod- 
gers arrived at Sandy Hook in the United States 
frigate President from a cruise in the course of which 
she passed most of the West India Islands. After 
being off Charleston two days she was chased by a 
seventy-four, two frigates, and several sloops of war. 
She had captured and sunk three British merchant- 
men, and taken on board thirty prisoners. 

* A number of British deserters and prisoners have stated 
their loss to have exceeded five thousand ; ana it is worthy of 
remark, that the British official account of the action on the 8th 
of January represents it as very considerably surpassing the 
statement given by general Jackson. 



216 NAVAL BATTLES. 

One occurrence that took place during this cruise 
is truly deserving of record. Several strange sail 
were observed, and one large ship to the windward, 
that proved to be a seventy four, which came down 
within gunshot. Commodore Rodgers had cleared 
ship for action, and continued with the main top-sail 
to the mast. After hauling her wind on the larboard 
tack, the enemy kept her distance, and the Presi- 
dent remained three hours with her main top-sail to 
the mast. As the enemy evinced no disposition to 
engage, the President gave her a shot to windward 
and hoisted colours — the seventy-four then bore up, 
and backed main top-sail when she had approached 
within gun shot. After mustering all hands aft, 
commodore Rodgers addressed them in a spirited 
and appropriate manner, and immediately gave or- 
ders to wear ship for the engagemen|. While back- 
ing to meet the cutter, and take a pilot on board, the 
commodore was surprised to observe the enemy stand- 
ing off to the southward and eastward. A frigate 
and gun brig appearing in sight, he hauled in main 
and fore tacks and made for land. 

For the space of five hours the enemy had it at all 
times in his power to bring the president to action, 
and she lay in readiness with main top-sail aback 
and expecting him. 

Captain Lloyd who commanded the seventy-four, 
which proved to be the Plantagenet, states that his 
crew was in a state of mutiny, and gives this as a 
reason for declining an engagement with the Presi- 
dent. 



NAVAL BATTLES 



217 




218 NAVAL BATTLES 



ESCAPE OF THE CONSTITUTION FROM THE 
TENEDOS AND ENDYMION 

On the 3d of April, 1814, the United States frig- 
ate Constitution, captain Stewart, arrived at Mar- 
blehead, having been chased in bj the British frig- 
ates Tenedos and Endymion, of thirty-eight guns 
each, which had been in chase of her from daylight. 
The frigates, or one of them, it is said, got within 
two or three miles of the Constitution, at one time, 
and to effect her escape she was obliged to throw 
overboard her provisions, &c. and every thing move- 
able, and started all her water. Some prize goods 
were likewise thrown over. 

She immediately anchored above fort Sewall, in a 
posture of defence, her exposed situation rendering 
her liable to an attack, should she remain there long. 
In order to the protection of the frigate and the town, 
a number of heavy cannon were sent over from Sa- 
lem, and major general Hovey issued an order for 
the Marblehead battalion of artillery to hold itself in 
readiness to act. Commodore Bainbridge, to whom 
an express had been sent, despatched assistance from 
the navy yard in Charlestown, and the company of 
New England Guards began their march from Bos- 
ton, to afford such aid as might be required of them. 
But towards evening the Constitution weighed an- 
chor and came round into Salem harbour. 

[Salem Gazette. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



219 




220 NAVAL BATTLES. 



HORNET AND PENGUIN. 

On the 23d of March, 1815, as the Hornet, com- 
manded by captain Biddle, was about to anchor otf 
the north end of the island of Tristan d'Acuna, a 
sail was seen to the southward ; which, at forty 
minutes past one, hoisted English colours, and fired 
a gun. The Hornet immediately luffed to, hoisted 
an ensign, and gave the enemy a broadside. A 
quick and well directed fire was kept up from the 
Hornet, the enemy gradually drifting nearer, with 
an intention, as captain Biddle supposed, to board. 
The enemy's bowsprit came in between the main and 
mizzen rigging on the starboard side of the Hornet, 
giving him an opportunity to board, if he had wish- 
ed, but no attempt was made. There was a consid- 
erable swell, and as the sea lifted the Hornet ahead, 
the enemy's bowsprit carried away her mizzen 
shrouds, stern davits, and spanker booms, and hung 
upon her larboard quarter. At this moment an offi- 
cer called out that they had surrendered. Captain 
Biddle directed the marines to stop firing, and, 
while asking if they had surrendered, received a 
wound in the neck. The enemy just then got clear 
of the Hornet ; and his foremast and bowsprit being 
both gone, and perceiving preparations to give him 
another broadside, he again called out that he had 
surrendered. It was with great difficulty that cap- 
tain Biddle could restrain his crew from firing into 



NAVAL BATTLES. 



221 




222 NAVAL BATTLES. 

him again, as it was certain he had fired into the 
Hornet after having surrendered. From the firing 
of the first gun to the last time the enemy cried out 
that he had surrendered, v^as exactly twenty-two 
minutes. The vessel proved to be the British brig 
Penguin, of twenty guns, a remarkably fine ves- 
sel of her class, and one hundred and thirty-two 
men; twelve of them supernumeraries from the 
Medway, seventy-four, received on board in conse- 
quence of their being ordered to cruise for the priva- 
teer Young Wasp. 

The Penguin had fourteen killed and twenty-eight 
wounded. Among the killed was captain Dicken- 
son, who fell at the close of the action- As she was 
completely riddled, and so crippled as to be incapa- 
ble of being secured, and being at a great distance 
from the United States, captain Biddle ordered her 
to be scuttled and sunk. 

The Hornet did not receive a single round shot in 
her hull ; and though much cut in her sails and rig- 
ging, was soon made ready for further service. Her 
loss was one killed and eleven wounded. 



ESCAPE OF THE HORNET. 

- On the 28th of April, 1815, the Hornet was chas- 
ed by a British seventy-four, and was compelled to 
throw over her guns, shot, spars, &c. She escaped, 
and put in at St. Salvador. On his arrival at that 



nAval battles. 223 

poTt, captain Biddle received information of the 
peace between the United States and Great Britain. 

On the return of captain Biddle to the United 
States a naval court of inquiry was held by order 
of the secretary of the navy, on board the Hornet, in 
the harbour of New York, on the 23d of August, 
1815, to investigate the causes of the return of that 
ship into port, and to inquire into the circumstances 
attending the loss of armament, stores, &c. during 
her cruise ; and the following opinion has been pro- 
nounced by the court : 

The court, after mature deliberation on the testi- 
mony adduced, are of opinion, that no blame is im- 
putable to captain Biddle, on account of the return 
of the Hornet into port, with the loss of her arma- 
ment, stores, &:c. and that the greatest applause is 
due to him for his persevering gallantry and nautical 
skill, evinced in escaping, under the most disadvan- 
tageous circumstances, after a long and arduous chase 
by a British line-of-battle ship. 

SAMUEL EVANS, President. 
HENRY WHEATON, Special Judge Advocate. 




NAVAL BATTLES 



PRIVATE ARMED VESSELS. 



THE ATLAS. 

The privateer schooner Atlas, of nineteen guns, 
captain David Moffat, soon after the declaration of 
war, sailed from Philadelphia. On the third of 
August, at eight a. m. she discovered two sail, for 
which she bore away. At eleven o'clock, the action 
was commenced by the Atlas, with a broadside and 
musketry. She continued engaged with both ships 
till noon, when the smallest one struck her colours. 
The Atlas then directed the whole of her fire against- 
the large ship ; when the small one, though her 
colours were down, renewed her fire on the At- 
las, which had to recommence firing on her. In a 
few minutes every man was driven from her decks. 
Twenty minutes after twelve, the large ship struck. 
Possession was immediately taken of both of them. 
One proved to be the ship Pursuit, captain Chivers, 
of four hundred and fifty tons, sixteen guns, and 
thirty-five men. The other was the ship Planter, 
captain Frith of two hundred and eighty tons, twelve 
guns, and fifteen men. The cargoes of both were 
very valuable. 

The Atlas had two men killed and five wounded, 
and her rigging and sails much injured. She arriv- 
ed safe in port with the Pursuit ; the Planter was 
recaptured off the capes of Delaware. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 225 



THE YOUNG EAGLE, 



Of New York, of one gun and forty-two men, 
engaged the British armed ship Granada, of eleven 
guns and thirty men, and another armed vessel in 
company with her. After an actic^n of an hour and 
a half, the Yoemg Eagle succeeded in capturing them 
both. 



THE MONTGOMERY, 

Captain Upton, of Boston, mounting twelve 
guns, on the 6th of December, 1812, off Surinam 
fell in with the British vessel of war Surinam, of 
twenty guns. They lay board and board for half an 
hour. Some of the privateer's men lashed the bob- 
stay of the Surinam to the Montgomery's main-mast. 
So spirited was the resistance- on both sides, that 
neither could succeed in boarding. One of the 
Montgomery's eighteen pounders was repeatedly 
discharged into the bows of her antagonist between 
wind and water. As soon as the two vessels parted, 
the Surinam made sail from the Montgomery. ^ler 
foremost was shot away, and she was otherwise so 
much disabled, as to be compelled to put into an 
outport to refit, without proceeding to the common 
place of rendezvous at Barbadoes. 
29 



226 NAVAL BATTLES". 



THE DOLPHIN, 

Of Baltimore, of ten guns and sixtj men, in the 
latter part of the year, engaged two British armed 
vessels at the same time, the one of sixteen guns 
and forty men, and the other of ten guns and twenty 
five men. She captured them both. 



THE ROLLA, 



Of Baltimore, of nineteen guns, captured seven 
vessels in one cruise, the guns ot which amounted 
to fifty-eight, and the prisoners to one hundred and 
fifty. 



THE HAZARD, 

Of Charleston, of three guns and thirty-eight men, 
commanded by Placide le Chartier, while at anchor 
off the island of Davie, discovered a man of war 
brig convoying five merchantmen. One of these last, 
having lost her mizzenmast, could not keep up with 
the rest of the convoy. As soon as they were out 
of sight, the Hazard pursued her, to which, after 



NAVAL BATTLES. 227 

some resistance, she struck. She proved to be the 
Albion, of London, copper-bottomed, and of three 
hundred tons burden, navigated by fifteen men, and 
mounting twelve guns. 

While the Hazard was lying off Charleston, in a 
fog, her prize was separated from her, and recaptured 
by a British Cutter, the Caledonia, of eight guns 
and thirty-eight men. Three days after, on the 22d 
of February, the Hazard discovered her. prize in 
company with the above-mentioned British cutter. 
The Hazard commenced a pursuit of them both. As 
soon as the Hazard came within musket shot, she 
commenced firing at the ship and cutter, which was 
returned by them with spirit, and apparent deter- 
mination. At three o'clock, the second lieutenant, 
carpenter, and five men of the Hazard, were severely 
wounded. At five, the cutter hauled off to repair 
the damages she had sustained. At half past five, 
the Hazard came close to the cutter, the crew of 
the former, having determined to lose their lives 
sooner than give up so valuable a prize. At half 
past six the British cutter again hauled off, and con- 
tinued to fire at a distance. Taking advantage of 
this, the Hazard bore down on the prize, and after a 
brisk fire caused her to strike her colours. She was 
then ordered to lie to. 

The British cutter having shot ahead, Le Chartier 
instantly gave chase, keeping up a brisk fire. He 
pursued her until eight o'clock. The cutter then 
ceased firing, and hailed, saying she had struck, and 
signified the same by hoisting and lowering a lantern 



228 NAVAL BATTLES. > 

three times. The Hazard having then but twenty- 
one men, including the captain on board, it ^vas not 
thought advisable to take possession of her. She 
bore down for the prize, of which she took possession, 
leaving a prize-master, and six men on board of her 
so that there only remained fourteen men on board 
of the Hazard. Both the. Hazard and her prize ar- 
rived safe at St. Mary's. 



THE COMET, 



Of Baltimore, captain Boyle, of twelve guns and 
one hundred and twenty men, being on a cruise, dis- 
covered, on the 14th of January, 1813, four sail 
standing out of Pernambuco. She lay by to give 
them an opportunity of getting off shore, with a 
view of then cutting them off. At three p. m. they 
were upon a wind standing s. e. and about six 
leagues from land. The Comet bore up, and made 
sail in chase. At six, one of them was discovered 
to be a large man of war brig. All hands were im- 
mediately called to quarters on board the Comet ; 
the guns were loaded with round and grape shot ; 
and the ship cleared for action. At seven, being 
close to the chase, she hoisted her colours, and came 
close to the man of war brig, which had hoisted 
Portuguese colours. The commander hailed, and 



NAVAL BATTLES. 229 

sent an officer on board the Comet, who informed 
captain Boyle, that the brig was a Portuguese na- 
tional vessel, mounting twenty thirty-two pounders 
and one hundred and sixty-five men ; that the three 
others were strongly armed English vessels : and 
that he must not molest them. Captain Boyle in- 
formed him that he certainly should make use of 
every exertion to capture them. The Portuguese 
said he was ordered to protect them, and certainly 
should. 

The English vessels were ahead of the Comet. 
They consisted of a ship of fourteen guns, and two 
brigs of ten guns each. So that including the Por- 
tuguese vessel, the Comet had a force of fifty- four 
guns to oppose. Captain Boyle immediately made 
sail for them ; came up with the ship, hailed her, 
and ordered the captain to have the mainsail back- 
ed. He gave little or no answer. The Comet hav- 
ing shot ahead, captain Boyle informed him, that 
he should be along in a few minutes, when if he did 
not obey his orders, he would pour a broadside into 
the ship.. In a few minutes the Comet tacked, the 
Portuguese sloop of war being close after her, and 
ran along side of the ship, one of the brigs being 
close to her. The Comet opened a broadside on 
them both. It was now about half past eight f. m. 
All the vessels were carrying a press of sail. The 
Comet, from her superior sailing, was frequently 
obliged to tack. From this she would have profit- 
ed very much, had not the Portuguese sloop of war 
been so close. The latter now opened a heavy 



230 NAVAL BATTLES. 

fire on the Comet, with round and grape shot, 
wliich she returned. The Comet had now the whole 
force of the four vessels to contend with. She, 
however, kept as closely as possible to the English 
vessels. They frequently separated, to give the 
sloop of war an opportunity of firing into the Comet. 
The latter as frequently poured whole broadsides 
into them ; at times also into the sloop of war. 

About eleven r. m. the ship surrendered — she was 
cut to pieces, and rendered unmanageable. Soon 
after the brig Bowes struck — she also was much in- 
jured. A boat was sent to take possession of her ; as 
it passed the sloop of war, a broadside was fired 
by ner, which nearly sunk it, and obliged it to return. 
The Comet then commenced a brisk fire at the 
sloop of war, which sheered off to some distance. 
After following her a short distance, she obliged the 
third English vessel to strike. The latter was very 
much cut to pieces. The Comet now again proceed- 
ed to take possession of the Bowes, when she spoke 
the ship that had first surrendered — her captain be- 
ing ordered to follow, informed captain Boyle that 
his ship was in a sinking condition, having many 
shot holes between wind and water, and every rope 
on board of her being cut away. At half past one, 
A. M. the Bowes was taken possession of and man- 
ned. The sloop of war then fired a broadside into 
the prize, and passed her. The moon was now 
down, and it became quite dark and squally. This 
caused the Comet to separate from the other vessels, 
excepting the sloop of war, with which broadsides 



NAVAL BATTLES. 231. 

were frequently exchanged. At two, she stood to 
the south. Captain Bojle now thought it most pru- 
dent to take care of one of the prizes until daylight, 
the other two being out of sight. At daybreak, "the 
sloop of war, and the two other prizes, a ship 
and brig, were discovered. The Comet immediately 
hove about, and stood for them. The sloop tacked, 
and made signals for her convoy to make for the 
first port. Captain Boyle, knowing the situation of 
the ship and brig, determined not to take possession 
of them, but to watch their manoeuvres. Great ex- 
ertions appeared to be made to keep them from 
sinking. 

Captain Boyle was afterwards informed that the 
sloop of war, was much injured— she had five men 
killed, and a number wounded. The ship's mast 
scarcely lasted to carry her into Pernambuco. Her 
cargo was nearly all damaged. It was with diffi- 
culty the brig was kept from sinking before she 
reached Pernambuco harbour. 

After capturing the Aberdeen, of eight guns, two 
vessels of ten guns each, in sight of a sloop of war, 
and a schooner, captain Boyle returned to the Unit- 
ed States. He passed the blockading squadron in 
the Chesapeake, and arrived safe at Baltimore. 



.V 



^^ 232?" ' NAVXt BATTLES. 



THE GENERAL ARMSTRONG, 

A SCHOONER of eighteen guns, commanded by 
captain Champlin, was cruising off Surinam, on the 
11th March, 1813. At seven a. m. she discovered 
a sail, which at half past eight, fired three guns, and 
hoisted English colours. About nine, the Armstrong 
fired a gun, and hoisted American colours. At half 
after nine, the British vessel tacked, and stood as 
near the Armstrong as the wind would permit, keep- 
ing up a brisk fire from her main deck guns. At 
half past ten, the Armstrong bore down, intending to 
pour her starboard broadside into her, then wear ship, 
discharge the larboard broadside, and then board. 
This was done, except the boarding. The English 
vessel was now discovered to be a frigate pierced for 
twenty-four guns. She kept up a constant fire on 
the Armstrong, which lay for ten minutes like a log. 
The fore-top-sail and mizzen-gaff halyards of the 
frigate were shot away. This brought down her 
colours. The crew of the Armstrong, thinking she 
had struck, ceased firing. But they were soon again 
'seen flying, and the action was renewed. The fri- 
gate lay for a few minutes apparently unmanageable. 
She soon, however, recovered, and opened a heavy 
fire from her starboard broadside and main-top ; ap- 
parently with the intention of sinking the Armstrong. 
The latter lay for the space of forty-five minutes 
within pistol shot of the frigate. Captain Champlin 



I 



NAVAL BATTLES. 233 

was standing by the centre gun, in the act of firing 
his pistol, when he was wounded by a musket ball 
from the main-top of the frigate. The Armstrong 
luffed to windward, and forereached the frigate. 

The Armstrong had six men killed, and sixteen 
wounded, and was very much injured in her rigging, 
masts, and hull — she, however, succeeded in escap- 
ing from the frigate. 



THE YOUNG TEAZER, 

Captain Dobson, of New York, was chased into 
Halifax by the Sir John Sherbroke, a vessel of supe- 
rior force. When within the light house she hoisted 
English colours over the American, and was chased 
nearly up to the forts, when the Sir John Sherbroke 
supposing her to be a prize, hove about, and put to 
sea. As soon as the latter was out of sight, the 
Young Teazer hauled down her English colours, 
and effected her escape. 



THE DECATUR, 



jt-. Of Charleston, mounting seven guns, with a crew 
of one hundred and three men, and commanded by 
captain Diron, being on a cruise in the month of 
August, discovered a ship and schooner. She imme- 
30 



234 ^ NAVAL BATTLES. 

diately stood towards them to reconnoitre. At half 
past twelve, the Decatur was abreast of the schooner, 
which hoisted English colours. At one the Decatur 
wore round ; and half an hour after the schooner fired 
a shot without effect. The captain of the Decatur 
immediately gave orders to prepare for action. At 
two o'clock the schooner fired another shot, which 
passed over the Decatur. At a quarter past two, the 
latter fired her large gun, and hoisted American 
colours at the peak : two more discharges were made 
from the same piece, which were answered by two 
guns from the British schooner. The two vessels 
were now within half gun shot distance. Captain 
Diron, observing that the schooner was prepared to 
bear away, hauled upon the larboard tack, in order 
to present the bow of his vessel to his antagonist. 
Soon afterwards the latter fired her whole broadside, 
which only slightly damaged the Decatur's rigging. 
This was returned from the eighteen pounder of the 
Decatur. Her captain at the same time, ordered 
every one of the crew to his post, in order to carry 
the British vessel by boarding, as soon as the neces- 
sary preparations for the purpose should be made. 
It was now three quarters of an hour past two, and 
the vessels were within pistol shot of each other. A 
severe fire of musketry commenced from the Deca- 
tur. The British schooner bore away to prevent 
being boarded ; and fired a broadside into the Deca- 
tur, which killed two of her men, and injured her 
rigging and sails. The Decatur closely followed her 
antagonist in her manoeuvres, and again endeavoured 



NAVAL BATTLES. 235 

to board, which the schooner once more avoided, and 
fired another broadside. A third attempt.was made 
by the captain of the Decatur to board. The jib- 
boom of the Decatur was run into the mainsail of 
the schooner, and the latter not being able to disen- 
gage herself dropped along side. During this ma- 
noeuvre the fire from the cannon and musketry on 
both sides was extremely severe and destructive. 
While the two vessels lay in this position captain 
Diron ordered his whole crew, armed with pistols, 
sabres, &c. to board, which was performed with the 
greatest promptness. The resistance of .the English 
was desperate. Fire arms soon became useless, and 
the contest was carried on with the cutlass. The 
captain and principal officers of the British vessel 
being killed, and her deck covered with dead and 
wounded, her colours were hauled down by the crew 
of the Decatur, when the two vessels were separat- 
ed, having their rigging and sails cut to pieces. 

The English vessel was his Britannick majesty's 
schooner Dominica, of fifteen-guns, with a crew of 
eighty-eight men. The Decatur had four men killed 
and sixteen wounded ; the Dominica thirteen killed 
and forty-seven wounded. Among the killed of the 
Dominica was her brave commander, who, as long 
as he lived, refused to surrender his vessel, and de- 
clared his determination not to survive her loss. 

The king's packet Princess Charlotte, remained an 
inactive spectator of this bloody contest, which lasted 
an hour. As soon as the vessels were disengaged, 
she tacked about and stood to the southward. She 



236 NAVAL BATTLES. 

had sailed from St. Thomas, under convoy of the 
Dominica. The Decatur and her prize arrived safe 
in port. 



THE SARATOGA, 

Of four guns and one hundred and sixteen men, 
belonging to New York, while cruising off Surinam 
river, in the month of September, discovered the 
British packet, brig Morgiana, of eighteen guns, 
with a crew of about fifty men, commanded by 
James Cunningham. Captain Aderton, the com- 
mander of the Saratoga, immediately gave chase : 
when within musket shot, the Morgiana hoisted 
English colours, and the action commenced : part 
of the time the vessels were within pistol shot : the 
remainder, they were close along side of each other. 
After an action of an hour and a quarter the Sarato- 
ga succeeded in capturing the British vessel by 
boarding. The action was extremely severe. Both 
vessels were almost reduced to wrecks. The Sara- 
toga had almost all her stays, shrouds, &c. cut away. 
In her mainsail there were upwards of a hundred 
shot holes. A number of shot also struck her masts, 
spars, and hull. The crew of the Morgiana fought 
with desperation. She had two men killed and 
eight wounded. The Saratoga had two men killed 
and five wounded. Both arrived safe in port. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 237 



THE GENERAL ARMSTRONG. 

The following letter from John D. Dabnej, Esq. 
American consul at Fayal, (Portugal,) gives the par- 
ticulars of a flagrant violation of the neutrality of that 
port, in an attack upon the privateer General Arm- 
strong, by the enemy. The Armstrong belonged to 
New York, and mounted eight long nines and a 
twenty-four pounder. 

Fayal, Octobers, 1814. 

Sir, — I have the honour to state to you that a 
most outrageous violation of the neutrality of this 
port, in. utter contempt of the laws of civilized na- 
tions, has recently been committed here, by the com- 
manders of his Britannick majesty's ships Plantaga- 
net, Rota and Carnation, against the American pri- 
vate arpied brig General Armstrong, Samuel C. 
Reid, commander ; but I have great satisfaction in 
being able to add, that this occurrence terminated in 
one of the most brilliant actions on the part of captain 
Reid, his brave officers and crew, that can be found 
on naval record. 

The American brig came to anchor in this port in 
the afternoon of the 26th of September, and at sun- 
set of the same day, the above named ships sudden- 
ly appeared in these roads ; it being nearly calm in 
the port, it was rather doubtful if the privateer could 
escape if she got under way, and relying on the jus- 
tice and good faith of the ,Bfiti?^ captains, it' was 



238 NAVAL BATTLES. 

^.deemed most prudent to remain at anchor. A little 
after dusk captain Reid seeing some suspicious move- 
ments on the part of the British, began to warp his 
vessel close under the guns of the castle, and while 
doing so, he was at about eight o'clock, f. m. ap- 
proached by four boats from the ships filled w ith 
armed men. After hailing them repeatedly and 
warning them to keep off, he ordered his men to fire 
upon them and killed and wounded several men. 
The boats returned the fire and killed one man and 
wounded the first lieutenant of the privateer, and re- 
turned to their ships ; and, as it was now light moon- 
light, it was plainly perceived from the brig as well 
as from the shore, that a formidable attack was pre- 
meditating. Soon after midnight, twelve or more 
large boats, crowded with men from the ships, and 
armed with carronades, swivels and blunderbusses, 
small arms, &c. attacked the brig ; a severe contest 
ensued which lasted about forty minutes and ended 
in the total defeat and partial destruction of the 
boats, with a most unparalleled carnage on the part 
of the British. It is estimated by good judges that 
near four hundred men were in the boats when the 
attack commenced, and no doubt exists in the minds 
of tke numerous spectators of the scene, that more 
than one half of them were killed or wounded ; sev- 
eral boats were destroyed ; two of them remained 
along side of the brig literally loaded with their 
own dead. From these two boats only seventeen 
reached the shore alive ; most of them were severe- 
ly wounded. The whole of flie following day the 



ilk 



NAVAL BATTLES. 239 

British were occupied in burying their dead ; among 
them were two lieutenants and one midshipman of 
the Rota — the first lieutenant of the Plantaganet, 
it is said, cannot survive his wounds, and many of 
the seamen who reached their ships were mortally 
wounded and have been dying daily. The British, 
mortified at this signal and unexpected defeat, endea- 
voured to conceal die extent of the loss ; they admit 
however that they lost in killed and who have died 
since the engagement, upwards of one hundred and 
twenty of the flower of their officers and men. The 
captain of the Rota told me he lost seventy, men 
from his ship. Two days after this affair took place 
the British sloops of war Thais and Calypso came 
into port, when captain Lloyd immediately took 
them into requisition to carry home the wounded offi- 
cers and seamen. They have sailed for England, 
one on the 2d and the other on the 4th instant, each 
carried twenty-five badly wounded. Those who 
were slighty wounded, to the number, as I am in- 
formed, of about thirty, remained on board of their 
respective ships, and sailed last evening for Jamaica. 
Strict orders were given that the sloops of war should 
take no letters whatever to England, and those or- 
ders were rigidly adhered to. 

In face of the testimony of all Fayal, and a num- 
ber of respectable strangers, who happened to be in 
this place at the moment, the British commander en- 
deavours to throw the odium of this transaction on 
the American captain, Reid, alleging that he sent the 
boats merely to reconnoitre the brig, and without any 



240 NAVAL BATTLES. 

hostile intentions ; the pilots of the port did inform 
them of the privateer the moment they entered the 
port. To reconnoitre an enemy's vessel in a friendly 
port, at night, with four boats, carrying, by the best 
accounts, one hundred and twenty men, is certainly 
a strange proceeding ! The fact is, they expected as 
the brig was warping in, that the Americans would 
not be prepared to receive them ^ and they had hopes 
of carrying her by a " coup de main." If any thing 
could add to the baseness of this transaction on the 
part of the British commander, it is the want of can- 
dour openly and boldly to avow the facts. In vain 
can he expect by such subterfuge to shield himself 
from the indignation of the world, and the merited 
resentment of his own government and nation for 
thus trampling on the sovereignty of their most an- 
cient and faithful ally, and for the wanton sacrifice 
of British lives. 

On the part of the Americans the loss was com- 
paratively nothing ; two killed and seven wounded : 
of the slain we have to lament the loss of the sec- 
ond lieutenant, Mr. Alexander O. Williams, of New^ 
York, a brave and meritorious officer. 

Among the wounded are Messrs. Worth and John- 
son, first and third lieutenants ; captain Reid was 
thus deprived, early in the action, of the services ol 
all his lieutenants ; but his cool and intrepid conduct 
secured him the victory. 

On the morning of the 27th ult. one of the British 
ships placed herself near the shore and commenced 
a heavy cannonade on the privateer. Finding far- 



^ 



NAVAL BATTLES. 241 

ther resistance unavailing, captain Reid ordered tier 
to be abandoned after being partially destroyed, to 
prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy, who 
soon after sent their boats and set her on fire. 

At nine o'clock in the evening (soon after the first 
attack) I applied to the governour, requesting his 
excellency to protect the privateer, either by force 
or by such remonstrance to the commander of the 
squadron as would cause him to desist from any fur- 
ther attempt. The governour indignant at what had 
passed, but feeling himself totally unable with the 
slender means he possessed, to resist such a force, 
took the part of remonstrating, which he did in for- 
cible but respectful terms. His letter to captain 
Lloyd had no other eifect than to produce a menacing 
reply insulting in the highest degree. Nothing can 
exceed the indignation of the publick authorities, as 
well as of all ranks and descriptions of persons here, 
at this unprovoked enormity. Such was the rage of 
the British to destroy this vessel, that no regard was 
paid to the safety of the town ; some of the inhabi- 
tants were wounded, and a number of houses wer(/ 
much damaged. The strongest representations on 
on this subject are prepared by the governour for his 
court. 

Since this affair the commander, captain Lloyd, 
threatened to send on shore an armed force, and 
arrest the privateer's crew ; saying there were many 
Englishmen among them ; and our poor fellows, 
afraid of his vengeance, have fled to the mountains 
several times, and have been harrassed extremely. 
31 



242 NAVAL BATTLES. 

At length, captain Lloyd, fearful of losing more men 
if he put his threats in execution, adopted this strata- 
gem : he addressed an official letter to the governour, 
stating that in the American crew were two men who 
deserted from his squadron in America, and as they 
were guilty of high treason, he required them to be 
found and given up. Accordingly a force was sent 
into the country, and the American seamen were ar- 
rested and brought to town, and as they could not 
designate the said pretended deserters, all the sea- 
men here passed an examination of the British offi- 
cers, but no such persons were to be found among 
them. I was requested by the governour and British 
consul to attend this humiliating examination, as was 
also captain Reid ; but we declined to sanction by 
our presence any such proceedings. 

Captain Reid has protested against the British 
commanders of the squadron for the unwarrantable 
destruction of his vessel in a neutral and friendly 
port, as also against the government of Portugal for 
their inability to protect him. 

I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir^ 
your most obedient servant. 

JOHN B. DABNEY. 

To the Secretary of State of the United States, WashingtoD 



I 



FATE OF CAPTAIN PORTER'S SETTLEMENT AT 
NOOAHEEVAH. 

Letter from captain John M. Gamble of the marines, detailing 
the occurrences which took place at Nooaheevah after the 
departure of captain Porter, and his subsequent capture by 
the Cherub. New York, August, 1815. 

Sir, — I have the honour to inform jou, that on 
the 12th of December, 1813, the day on which the 
Essex frigate, and Essex jmiior, took their depar- 
ture from Nooaheevah, I was left in pert Anna 
Maria bay, with eighteen men under my command, 
and six prisoners of war, in charge of the establish- 
ment on shore, together with the prize ships Green- 
wich, Seringapatam, and Sir Andrew Hammond, 
with orders from captain Porter to remain five and a 
half calendar months at that place — at the expiration 
of which time, should he not return, or send me 
further instructions how to act, I was, if possible, 
to man two of the ships, and after taking, every arti- 
cle of value out of the other, and burning that ship, 
to repair to the port of Valparaiso — where, in the 
event of my not finding the frigate or additional or- 
ders, I was authorized to dispose of one of the ships 
to the best advantage, taking on board the other 
all the men under my charge, as well as the prize- 
crews of the different ships then in that port, and 
proceed to the United States. 

After receiving those instructions, my first object 
was, agreeably to the wish of captain Porter, to fill 
the ship New Zealander with oil from the other ships ; 



244 NAVAL BATTLES. 

and on the 28th of the same month she took her de- 
parture for the United States, with a cargo of nine- 
teen hundred and fifty barrels, and well found in 
every respect for so long a. voyage. 

With regret, sir, I have to inform you, the frigate 
had not got clear of the Marquesas, before we d'is- 
covered in the natives a hostile disposition towards 
us, and in a few days they became so insolent, that 
I found it absolutely necessary, not only for the se- 
curity of the ships and property on shore, but for 
our personal safety, to land my men and regain by 
force of arms the many articles they had in the 
most daring manner stolen from the encampment ; 
and what was of still greater importance, to prevent, 
if possible, their putting threats into execution, which 
might have been attended with the most serious con- 
sequences on our part, from duty requiring my men 
to be so much separated. 

I, however, had the satisfaction to ^iccomplish my 
wish without firing a musket, and from that time 
lived in perfect amity with them, until the 7th May 
following, when my distressed situation placed me in 
their power. 

Before mentioning the lamentable events of that 
day, and the two succeeding ones, I shall give you a 
brief account of a few preceding occurrences which 
were sources of great uneasiness to me. 

The first was the death of John Witter (a faithful 
old marine) who was unfortunately drowned in the 
surf on the afternoon of the 28th of February, and 
the desertion of four of my men ; the one Isaac 



NAVAL BATTLES. 245 

Coffin (black man) had deserted from the Essex the 
day before she sailed out of the bay, and was then a 
prisoner for attempting the second time to make his 
escape from the ships. They took the advantage of 
a dark night, and left the bay in a whale-boat, unob- 
served by any person, all, excepting the prisoner, 
having the watch on deck. They took with them 
several muskets, a supply of ammunition, and many 
things of but little value. My attempt to pursue 
them was prevented, by their destroying, in a great 
measure, the only remaining boat at that time sea 
worthy. 

On the 12th April began to rig the ships Ser- 
ingapatam, and Sir Andrew Hammond, which, as I 
calculated, employed the men until the 1st of May. 
All hands were then engaged in getting the remain- 
der of the property from the Greenwich to the Serin- 
gapatam, as I began to despair of the frigate rejoin- 
ing me at that place. 

The work went on well, and the men were obe- 
dient to my orders, though I discovered an evident 
change in their countenances, which led me to sup- 
pose there was something wrong in agitation, and 
under that impression had all the muskets, and am- 
munition, and small arms of every description taken 
to the Greenwich (the ship I lived on board of) from 
the other ships, as a necessary precaution against a 
surprise from my own men. 

On the 7th of May, while on board the Seringa- 
patam on duty which required my being presen , f 
was suddenly and violently attacked by the men 



246 ■ NAVAL BATTLES. 

employed in that ship. After struggling a short 
time, and receiving many bruises, I was thrown down 
on the deck, and my hands and legs immediately 
tied. They then threw me on the second deck, 
thence dragged me into the cabin, and confined me 
to the run, where in a few minutes midshipman Fel- 
tus, and acting midshipman Clapp were thrown in, 
tied in the same manner as myself : the scuttle was 
then nailed down and a sentinel placed over it. 

After spiking all the guns of the Greenwich, and 
of the fort, and those of the Sir Andrew Hammond 
that were loaded, plundering the ships of every thing 
valuable, — committing many wanton depredations on 
shore, taking all the arms and ammunition from the 
Greenwich ; sending for Robert White, the man who 
was sent out of the Essex for mutinous conduct, and 
bending the necessary sails, they stood out of the 
bay, with a light wind off the land. 

My fellow prisoners, and shortly after myself, 
were then taken out of the run, and placed in the ca- 
bin, under the immediate charge of several sentinels. 

Shortly after getting clear of the bay, one of the 
sentinels, though he had been repeatedly cautioned 
against putting his finger on the trigger, fired a pis- 
tol, the contents of which passed though my heel a 
little below the ankle bone. 

I had not received the wound a moment before the 
men on deck pointed their muskets down the sky- 
light, and were in the act of firing, when the sen- 
tinel prevented them by saying the pistol was acci- 
dentally discharged. 



NAVAL BATTLES. 247 

At nine o'clock, the night dark, and the wind 
blowing fresh, after receiving by request from the 
mutineers a barrel of powder and three old muskets, 
I was put in a leaky boat, where I found my unfor- 
tunate companions. 

In that situation, after rowing at least six miles, 
and every person exhausted from the great exertion 
made to prevent the boat from sinking, we reached 
the Greenwich, where I found my few remaining 
men anxiously looking out for me, and seriously 
alarmed at the conduct of the savages. They had 
already begun to plunder the encampment, and were 
informed by Wilson (a man who had lived among 
them for several years, and who, as I afterwards 
learnt, was not only instrumental to the mutiny, but 
had in my absence plundered the Sir Andrew Ham- 
mond) of our defenceless situation. 

Finding it impossible to comply with that part of 
my instructions directing me to remain in the bay 
until the 27th May — I thought it most advisable to 
repair to the port of Valparaiso ; and with that view 
every soul, assisted by George Ross, and William 
Brudewell, (traders living on the island for the pur- 
pose of collecting sandal wood,) exerted themselves 
in making the necessary preparations to depart. 

My first object was to put the Sir Andrew Ham- 
mond in a situation that we might get under way at 
any moment. That done, all hands were engaged 
in getting the few articles of value from shore, and 
endeavouring to recover the stolen property from the 
Sir Andrew Hammond, when the lavages made an 



.248 NAVAL BATTLES. 

unprovoked and wanton attack upon us, in which I 
have, with the deepest regret, to inform jou, midship- 
man William Feltus, John Thomas, Thomas Gibbs, 
and William Brudewell were massacred, and Peter 
Caddington (marine) dangerously wounded ; but he 
made his escape together with William Worth, by 
swimming some distance, when they were taken out 
of the water by midshipman Clapp and the only 
three men left. Our situation at that moment was 
most desperate — the savages put off in every direction 
with a view to intercept the boat, and board the 
ship, but were driven back by my firing the few guns 
we had just before loaded with grape and cannister 
shot. Before the boat returned, and the guns were 
reloaded, they made the second attempt, and after- 
wards repeated attempts, first to board the Sir Andrew 
Hammond, and then the Greenwich — but were re- 
pulsed by our keeping up a constant firing. During 
this time several hundred were employed in pulling 
down the houses, and plundering the encampment, 
while others were in the fort, endeavouring (assisted 
by Wilson who had received several casks of powder 
from the mutineers} to get the spikes out of the guns. 
As soon as William Worth had recovered a little 
strength after being so long in the water^ I sent the 
boat to the Greenwich, for John Pitlenger (a sick 
man) and some things that were indispensably neces- 
sary, and with orders to burn that ship, and return 
with all possible despatch, as our ammunition was 
nearly all expended, and we had no other means of 
keeping the savages one moment out of the ship. — 



NAVAL BATTLES. 249 

We then bent the jib and spanker, cut the moorings, 
and luckily had a light breeze that carried us clear 
of the bay, with six cartridges only remaining. 

It was then we found our situation most distressing. 
In attempting to run the boat up, it broke in two 
parts and we were compelled to cut away from 
the bows our only anchor, not being able to cat 
it. We mustered altogether eight souls — out of 
which there was one cripple confined to his bedj one 
man dangerously wounded, one sick, one convales- 
cent, a feeble old man just recovering from the scur- 
vy, and myself unable to lend any further assistance, 
the exertions of the day having so greatly inflamed 
my wound as to produce a violent fever, — leaving 
midshipman Clapp, and two men only capable of do- 
ing duty. In that state, destitute of charts and of 
every means of getting to windward, I saw but one 
alternative, to run the trade winds down, and if pos- 
sible to make the Sandwich islands, in hopes of either 
falling in with some of the Canton ships, (that being 
their principal place of rendezvous) or of obtaining 
some assistance from Tamaahmaah, the king of the 
Windward Islands. 

No time was lost in bending the topsails, and on 
the 10th of May we took our departure from Ro- 
berts island. On the 25th of the same month made 
Owhyhee, and on the 30th after suffering much, 
came to an anchor in Whytetee baj, at the island of 
Whoohoo, where I found captain Winship, several 
officers of ships, and a number of men, from whom 

32 



250 NAVAL BATTLES. 

(particularly captain Winship) I received every assist- 
ance their situation could afford me. 

The natives, though at first surprised at our de- 
plorable condition, and inquisitive to know the cause 
of it, which I did not think prudent to inform them, 
supplied the ship with fresh meat, fruits and vegeta- 
bles, partly on condition that I would take the chief 
men of the island, and some others with their pro- 
perty up to the Windward Islands, (where I found it 
necessary to go,) after shipping some men, in order 
to procure a supply of salt provisions from the king. 
From thence it was my intention to have proceeded 
to Valparaiso in compliance with my instructions 
from captain Porter, — but I was unfortunately cap- 
tured on the passage by the English ship Cherub of 
twenty guns. I was somewhat surprised to hear 
captain Tucker say (when I pointed out a valuable 
canoe, and many other articles which I assured him 
was the property of the natives, and that I was mere- 
ly conveying them, and it, from the one island to the 
other, the weather being to boisterous at that time 
for them to make the passage in their canoes,) that 
every thing found in a prize-ship belonged to the 
captors. 

So that I had the mortification to see the people 
from whom I had received so much kindness, sent on 
shore, deprived of all they had been collecting for 
twelve months past, and were about to present to 
their king as a tribute imposed upon them. 

The Cherub then proceeded to Atooi, where after 
capturing the ship Charon, and making many fruit 



NAVAL BAITLLS. 251 

less attempts to get the cargo of that ship, and se- 
veral others -hat had been deposited on the island, 
under the in mediate protection of the king of the 
Leeward Ishmds, she took her departure on the 
1 5th of July from that place, and on the 28th Novem- 
ber following, arrived at Rio de Janeiro with her 
prizes, touchis^g on her passage for refreshments at 
Otaheite and Valparaiso. During her stay at the 
latter place, the frigates Briton and Tagus arrived 
from the Marquesas, where they had been in search 
of the ships left under my charge. 

On the 15th of December the prisoners were sent 
on shore, having received the most rigorous treat- 
ment from captain Tucker, during their long confine- 
ment in his ship, and the greater part of them, like 
the natives, left destitute of every thing, save the 
clothes on their backs. The men belonging to the 
Essex had but little to lose, but those I shipped 
at Waahoo had received in part, money and goods 
for one, two, and some of them three years services 
Id *h» '"'^nton ships. 

On the 15th of May, by the advice of a physician 
who attended me, I took my departure from Rio 
de Janeiro, in a Swedish ship bound to Havre de 
Grace leaving behind acting midshipman Benjamin 
Clapp, and five men, haying lost one soon after my 
arrival at that place with the small pox. 

No opportunity had previously offered by which I 
could possibly get from thence, the English admiral 
on that station, being determined to prevent by every 



252 NAVAL BATTLES. 

means in his power American prisoner*^ from returning 
to their own country. 

On the 10th instant, in latitude forty-seven degrees 
north, and in longitude eighteen degrees west I took 
passage on board the ship Oliver Ellsworth (captain 
Roberts) fifteen days from Havre de Grace, bound to 
New York. 

I arrived here last evening, and have the honour to 
wait either the orders of the navy department, or of 
the commandant of the marine corps. 

I have the honour to be, &c. &c. 

JOHN M. GAMBLE. 

To the honourable the Secretary of the Navy, Washington 



4 



ALGERINE WAR. 

• 

Immediately after the ratification of peace with 
Great Britain, in February 1815, Congress, in con- 
sequence of the hostile conduct of the regency of Al- 
giers, declared War against that power. A squadron 
was immediately fitted out, under the command of 
commodore Decatur, consisting of the Guerriere, Con- 
stellation, and Macedonian frigates, the Ontario and 
Epervier sloops of war, and the schooners Spark, 
Spitfire, Torch, and Flambeau. Another squadron, 
under commodore Bainbridge, was to follow this ar- 
mament, on the arrival of which, it was understood, 
commodore Decatur would return to the United 
States in a single vessel, leaving the command of 
the whole combined force to commodore Bainbridge. 

The force under commodore Decatur rendezvoused 
at New York, from which port they sailed the 20th 
day of May, 1815, and arrived in the bay of Gib- 
raltar in twenty-five days, after having previously 
communicated with Cadiz and Tangier. In the 
passage, the Spitfire, Torch, Firefly, and Ontario, 
separated at different times from the squadron in 
gales, but all joined again at Gibraltar, with the ex- 
ception of the Firefly, which sprung her masts, and 
put back to New York to refit. Having learned at 
Gibraltar that the Algerine squadron, which had be«a 
out into the Atlantic, had undoubtedly passed up 
the straits, and that information of the arrival of the 
American force had been sent to Algiers by persons 



254 NAVAL BATTLES. 

in Gibraltar, commodore Decatur determined to pro- 
ceed without delay, up the Mediterranean, in the 
hope of intercepting the enemy before he could re- 
turn to Algiers, or gain a neutral port. 

The 17th of June, off Cape de Gatt, he fell in 
with and captured the Algerine frigate Mazouda, in 
a running fight of twenty-five minutes. After two 
broadsides the Algerines ran below. The Guerriere 
had four men wounded by musketry — the Algerines 
about thirty killed, according to the statement of the 
prisoners, who amounted to four hundred and six. 
In this affair the famous Algerine admiral, or Rais, 
Hammida, who had long been the terror of this sea, 
was cut in two by a cannon shot. 

On the 19th of June, off cape Palos, the squadron 
fell in with and captured an Algerine brig of twenty- 
two guns. The brig was chased close to the shore, 
where she was followed by the Epervier, Spark, 
Torch, and Spitfire, to whom she surrendered, after 
losing twenty-three men. No Americans were either 
killed or wounded. The captured brig, with most 
of the prisoners on board, was sent into Carthagena, 
where she has since been claimed by the Spanish 
government under the plea of a breach of neutrality. 
As this affair will probably become a subject of ne- 
gotiation between the United States and Spain, we 
decline entering into further particulars. 

From cape Palos, the American squadron proceed- 
ed to Algiers, where it arrived the 28th of June. 
Aware that a despatch-boat had been sent from Gib- 
raltar, to inform the regency of his arrival, and having 
also learned that several Tartans had gone in search 



NAVAL BATTLES. 25o 

of the Algerines to communicate the news, commo- 
dore Decatur concluded that their fleet was by this 
time safe in some neutral port. He therefore thought 
it a favourable time to take advantage of the terror 
which his sudden and unwelcome arrival had excited, 
to despatch a letter from the President of the United 
States to the dey, in order to afford him a fair opportu- 
nity to open a negotiation. The captain of the port 
was immediately despatched to the Guerriere, on the 
receipt of this letter, accompanied by Mr. Norderling 
the Swedish consul ; and commodore Decatur, who, 
with Mr. Shaler, had been empowered to negotiate 
a treaty, proposed the basis, on which alone he could 
consent to enter on the affair of an adjustment. This 
was the absolute and unqualified relinquishment of 
any demand of tribute on the part of the regency, on 
any pretence whatever. To this he demurred. He 
was then asked if he knew what had become of the 
Algerine squadron, and replied — " By this time it is 
safe in some neutral port." " Not the whole of it," 
was the reply. He was then told of the capture of 
the frigate, of the brig, and of the death of Hammida. 
He shook his head, and smiled with a look of incredu- 
lity, supposing it a mere attempt to operate on his fears, 
and thus induce an acceptance of the proposed basis. 
But when the lieutenant of Hammida was called in, 
and the minister learned the truth of these particulars, 
he becannie completely unnerved, and agreed to nego- 
tiate on the proposed basis. He premised, however, 
'that he was not authorized to conclude a treaty, but 
requested the American commissioners to state the 
conditions they had to prooose. This was done, and 



256 NAVAL BATTLES. 

the captain of the port then requested a cessation of 
hostilities, and that the negotiation should be conduct- 
ed on shore, the minister of marine having pledged 
himself for their security while there, and their safe 
return to the ships whenever they pleased. Neither 
of these propositions were accepted, and the captain 
was expressly given to understand, that not only 
must the negotiation be carried on in the Guerriere, 
but that hostilities would still be prosecuted against 
all vessels belonging to Algiers, until the treaty was 
signed by the dey. 

The captain of the port and Mr. Norderling then 
went on shore, but the next day again came on board, 
with the information that they were commissioned 
by the dey, to treat on the basis for which the com- 
missioners of the United States had stipulated. A 
treaty was then produced, which the commissioners 
declared could not be varied in any. material article, 
and that consequently, discussion was not only useless, 
but dangerous on their part ; for if in the interim the 
Algerine squadron were to appear, it would most as- 
suredly be attacked. On examining the treaty pro- 
posed, the captain of the port was extremely anxious 
to get the article stipulating for the restoration of 
the property taken by the Algerines during the war 
dispensed with, earnestly representing that it had 
been distributed into many hands, and that as it was 
not the present dey who declared war, it was unjust 
that he should answer for all its consequences. The 
article was, however, adhered to by the American com- 
missioners, and after various attempts to gain a truce, 
as well as to gain time, it was at length settled 



NAVAL BATTLES. 257 

that all hostilities should instantly cease, when a 
boat was seen coming off with a white flag, the 
Swedish consul pledging at the same time his honour 
that it should not be hoisted until the dey had. sign- 
ed the treaty, and the prisoners were safe in the 
boat. The captain and Mr. Norderling then went 
on shore, and returned within three hours ; with the 
treaty signed, together with all the prisoners, al- 
though the distance was more than five miles. The 
principal articles in this treaty were, that no tribute 
under any pretext or in any form whatever, should 
ever be required by Algiers from the United States 
of America — that all Americans in slavery should be 
given up without ransom — that compensation should 
be made for American vessels captured, or pro- 
perty seized or detained at Algiers— that the persons 
and property of American citizens found on board an 
enemy's vessels should be sacred — that vessels of 
either party putting into port should be supplied 
with provisions at market price, and, if necessary 
to be repaired, should land their cargoes without 
paying duty — that if a vessel belonging to either 
party should be cast on shore, she should not be given 
up to plunder — or if attacked by an enemy within can- 
non shot of a fort, should be protected, and no ene 
my be permitted to follow her when she went to sea 
within twenty-four hours. In general, the rights 
of Americans on the ocean and land, were fully pro- 
vided for in every instance, and it was particularly 
stipulated that all citizens of the United States taken 
in war, should be treated as prisoners of war are 
33 



258 NAVAL BATTLES. 

treated by other nations, and not as slaves, but held 
subject to an exchange without ransom. After con- 
cluding this treaty, so highly honourable and advan- 
tageous to this country, the commissioners gave up 
the captured frigate and brig, to their former owners. 
To this they were influenced by a consideration of 
the great expense it would require to put them in a 
condition to be sent to the United States — the im- 
possibility of disposing of them in the Mediterranean 
and by the pressing instances of the dey himself, 
who earnestly represented that this would be the 
best method of satisfying his people with the treaty 
just concluded, and consequently the surest guaran- 
tee for its observance on his part. The policy of 
the measure we think sufficiently obvious, when it is 
considered that the dey would most likely, in case 
of their refusal, have fallen a victim to the indigna- 
tion of the people, and that, in all probability, his 
successor would have found his safety only in disown- 
ing the peace which had been made by his predeces- 
sor. There being, as we before stated, some dispute 
with the Spanish authorities with regard to the le- 
gality of the capture of the Algerine brig, it was stip- 
ulated on the part of the American commissioners, 
in order to induce the Spaniards to give herrip, that 
the Spanish consul and a Spanish mer<?hant, then 
prisoners in Algiers, should be released, and permit- 
ted to return to Spain if they pleased. According to 
the last advices the brig was still detained by the 
Spanish government, and the ultimate disposal of 
this vessel will probably be settled by an amicable 
negotiation. 



NAVAL BATTLKS. 259 



Commodore Decatur despatched captain Lewis in 
the Epervier, bearing the treaty to the United States, 
'and leaving Mr. Shaler at Algiers, as consul-general 
to the Barbary states, proceeded with the rest of 
the squadron to Tunis, with the exception of two 
schooners under captain Gamble, sent to convoy the 
Algerine vessels home from Carthagena. He was 
prompted to this visit, by having been informed that 
a misunderstanding existed between our consul and 
the bashaw of Tunis, into the nature of which he 
considered himself bound in duty to inquire. Here 
he was officially informed by the consul of a violation 
of the treaty subsisting between the United States 
and the bashaw, first, in permitting two prizes of an 
American privateer to be taken out of the harbour 
by a British cruiser, and secondly, in permitting a 
company of merchants, subjects of Tunis, to take 
the property of an American citizen at their own 
price, and much below its real value. 

The truth of these allegations being thus officially 
verified, commodore Decatur addressed a letter to 
the prime minister of Tunis, demanding satisfaction 
for these outrages exercised or permitted by the 
bashaw, and a full restoration of the property thus 
given up or sacrificed. The bashaw, through the 
medium of his prime minister, acknowledged the 
truth of the facts, as well as the justice of the de- 
mands ; but begged twelve months to pay the money. 
This was refused ; and on receiving assurances that 
it would be paid forthwith, the commodore went on 
shore, where he received the visits of the different 



260 NAVAL BATTLES. 

consuls. The brother of the prime minister of Tunis 
chanced to arrive with the money at this time, and 
seeing the British consul in conversation with com- 
modore Decatur, threw down the bags which con- 
tained it with great indignation, at the same time ad- 
dressing the consul in English, which he spoke fluent- 
ly, " You see, sir, what Tunis is obliged to pay 
for your insolence. You must feel ashamed of the 
disgrace you have brought upon us. You are very 
good friends now, but I ask you whether you think 
it just first to violate our neutrality, and then to leave 
us to be destroyed, or pay for your aggressions." As 
soon as the money was paid, the bashaw prepared 
to despatch a minister to England, to demand the 
amount which he had been obliged to pay in conse- 
quence of this requisition of the American commodore. 
After adjusting these differences, the squadron 
proceeded to Tripoli, where commodore Decatur 
made a similar demand for a similar violation of the 
treaty subsisting between the United States and the 
bashaw, who had permitted two American vessels to 
be taken from under the guns of his castle by a Brit- 
ish sloop of war, and refused protection to an Amer- 
ican cruiser lying within his jurisdiction. Restitu- 
tion of the full value of these vessels was demanded, 
and the money, amounting to twenty-five thousand dol- 
lars, paid by the bashaw into the hands of the Amerr 
can consul. After the conclusion of this affair, the 
American consular flag, which Mr. Jones, the consul, 
c' f V '- 'nek, in consequence of the violation of neutral- 
ity 5')0ve mentioned, was hoisted in the presence of 



NAVAL BxlTTLES. 261 

the foreign agents, and saluted from the castle with 
thirty-one guns. In addition to the satisfaction thus 
obtained for unprovoked aggressions, the commodore 
had the pleasure of obtaining the release of ten cap- 
tives, two Danes, and eight Neapolitans, the latter of 
whom he landed at Messina. 

After touching at Messina and Naples, the squad- 
ron sailed for Carthagena on the 31st of August, 
where commodore Decatur was in expectation of 
meeting the relief squadron, under commodore Bain- 
bridge. On joining that officer at Gibraltar, he re- 
linquished his command, and sailed in the Guerriere 
for the United States, where he arrived on the 12th 
of November, 1815. Every thing being done previ- 
ous to the arrival of the second division of the squad- 
ron, under commodore Bainbridge, that gallant officer 
had no opportunity of distinguishing himself, as we are 
satisfied he always will where occasion occurs. 
Pursuant to his instructions he exhibited this addition- 
al force before Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, where 
they were somewhat surprised at the appearance of 
the Independence seventy-four, having always been 
persuaded that the United States were restricted by 
their treaties with England from building ships of 
that class. When colonel Lear was consul at Algiers 
he endeavoured to convince the ministers of the dey 
that such was not the case ; but they always replied, 
" If you are permitted to build seventy-fours, let us 
see one of them and we shall be satisfied." Com 
modore Bainbridge sailed from Gibraltar thirty-six 
hours before the Guerriere, and arrived at Boston the 
16th of November. 



262 NAVAL BATTLES. 

Thus was concluded an expedition in which, 
though few, perhaps no opportunities occurred for. 
a display of the hardy prowess of our sailors, the na- 
tion acquired singular honour, in humbling and chas- 
tising a race of lawless pirates, who have long been 
the inveterate scourges of the christian world. Inde- 
pendently of the glory thus accruing to the republi- 
can^iame, the probable advantages arising from this 
sudden and unlooked-for appearance of an American 
squadron immediately after a war, with Great Bri- 
tain, we think will be manifold. This circumstance 
will give them an idea of the power and resources, of 
the United -States altogether different from that 
which they before entertained ; and serve to con- 
vince them of the danger of provoking their resent- 
ment under any expectation of the destruction of 
their navy by any power whatever. That the as- 
surance of an immediate war with England was what 
principally encouraged the dey of Algiers to com- 
mence hostilities against the United States, under 
a conviction that our little navy would speedily be 
annihilated, is evident from the following fact. One 
of the dey's officers one morning insinuated, whether 
true or false we cannot say, to the British consul at 
Algiers, that it washis fault that they declared war. 
" You told us," said he, " that the American navy 
would be destroyed in six months by you, and now 
they make war upon us with two of your own ves- 
sels they have taken from you !" 



